South Dakota
State Flag
Adopted in 1963.
The current state flag of South Dakota was adopted in 1963. The flag of the state of South Dakota represents the U.S. state of South Dakota with a field of sky blue charged with a version (in navy blue on white) of the state seal in the center, surrounded by gold triangles representing the sun's rays, surrounded in turn by inscriptions in gold sans-serif capitals of "SOUTH DAKOTA" on top and "THE MOUNT RUSHMORE STATE" (the state nickname) on the bottom. The inscription on the bottom was "THE SUNSHINE STATE" before it was changed in 1992.
The South Dakota State Flag
From 1909 until 1963, this flag had two sides - the state seal on one and a large golden sun with lettering around it on the reverse. But when it was decided to keep just one, the designs were combined. The original design was by Senator Ernest May and Doane Robinson, secretary of the State Historical Society. The redesign was done by Will Robinson, Doane Robinson's son. The seal shows a farmer and a rancher, depicting the kind of work of the people of South Dakota. The trees represent the lumber industry, and the river and steamboat, transportation and trade. The gold band is a reminder of the state's nickname.
South Dakota Flag of 1909
The original flag of South Dakota consisted of a dominant sun encircled by the text "South Dakota" and "The Sunshine State". The 1909 statute stated:
"
The Flag of South Dakota shall consist of a field of blue, one and two-thirds as long as it
is wide, in the center of which shall be a blazing sun in gold, two-fifths as wide in diameter
as the width of the flag. Above this sun shall be arranged in the arc of the circle, in gold
letters, the words 'South Dakota' and below this sun in the arc of the circle shall be arranged
the words in gold letters, 'The Sunshine State', and on the reverse of the blazing sun shall
be printed in dark blue the Great Seal of the State Of South Dakota. The edges of the flag
shall be trimmed with a fringe of gold, to be in proportion to the width of the flag. The staff
shall be surmounted by a spearhead to which shall be attached cord and tassels of suitable
length and size.
The following was reported in the Wi-iyohi (Volume II, November 1, 1948), a monthly bulletin published by the State Historical Society.
"In 1909 Senator Ernest May of Deadwood came into the Historical Society office. Seth Bullock wanted a state flag. May asked Doane Robinson about it and was told by Robinson that Ida Anding, now Mrs. McNeil, former operator of KGFX radio of Pierre, who was then a stenographer in the Historical offices, would design him a flag. She did. It was a blazing sun, on an azure background. May liked the design, Senate Bill 208 was introduced. On the floor later, he moved that 'on the reverse of the blazing sun shall appear the Great Seal of the State of South Dakota in dark blue.' This was adopted and the bill passed. Money to buy two flags was appropriated. One went to the Secretary of State, and Seth Bullock of Camp No. 1, United Spanish Veterans of South Dakota, got the other."
South Dakota Flag of 1963
In 1963, Representative William Sahr of Hughes County introduced House Bill No. 503, proposing that the flag be modified to display the Great Seal on both sides. This measure would significantly reduce the cost of manufacture and presumably increase the flag's presence in the State. House Bill No. 503 was signed into law by Governor Archie M. Gubbrud on March 11, 1963. The law now stipulated:
55.0108 State flag. The state flag or banner shall consist of a field of sky blue one and two-thirds as long as it is wide. Centered on such field shall be the Great Seal of South Dakota made in conformity with the terms of the Constitution, which shall be four-ninths (4/9) the width of the said flag in diameter; such seal shall be on a white background with the seal outlined in dark blue thereon, or in the alternative shall be on a sky blue background with the seal outlined in dark blue thereon; surrounding the seal in gold shall be a serrated sun whose extreme width shall be five-ninths (5/9) the width of the said flag. The words 'South Dakota' symmetrically arranged to conform to the circle of the sun and seal shall appear in gold letters one-eighteenth (1/18) the width of the said field above said sun and seal and the words 'The Sunshine State' in like sized gold letters and in like arrangement shall appear below the said sun and seal. Flags designed of such material as may be provident for outdoor use need no fringe, but for indoor and display usage shall have a golden fringe one-eighteenth (1/18) the width of said flag on the three sides other than the hoist.
All state flags made in conformity with state law prior to the effective date of this act shall remain official state flags, but the creation of a state flag from and after the effective date of this act, other than in conformity herewith, is prohibited."
South Dakota Flag of 1992
A third change to the flag was made in 1992 when South Dakota adopted "The Mount Rushmore State" as its official nickname and "The Sunshine State" was replaced with the official State nickname on the State flag.
Flag pledge
The official pledge of the South Dakota flag is "I pledge loyalty and support to the flag and state of South Dakota, land of sunshine, land of infinite variety." The only protocol to the state flag pledge is that it does not either replace or preempt the Pledge of Allegiance to the flag of the United States.
South Dakota Flag Law
South Dakota Code, Title 1, Chapter 4.
TITLE 1 STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT
CHAPTER 1-6 STATE EMBLEMS
1-6-4. State flag--Description. The state flag or banner shall consist of
a field of sky-blue one and two-thirds as long as it is wide. Centered on such field shall
be the great seal of South Dakota made in conformity with the terms of the Constitution, which
shall be four-ninths the width of the flag in diameter. The seal shall be on a white background
with the seal outlined in dark blue or, in the alternative, shall be on a sky-blue background
with the seal outlined in dark blue thereon. Surrounding the seal in gold shall be a serrated
sun whose extreme width shall be five-ninths the width of the flag. The words "South Dakota"
symmetrically arranged to conform to the circle of the sun and seal shall appear in gold letters
one-eighteenth the width of the field above the sun and seal and the words "The Mount
Rushmore State" in like-sized gold letters and in like arrangement shall appear below
the sun and seal. Flags designed of such material as may be provident for outdoor use need
have no fringe but flags for indoor and display usage shall have a golden fringe one-eighteenth
the width of the flag on the three sides other than the hoist.
Source: SDC 1939, § 55.0108; SL 1939, ch 205; SL 1963, ch 419, § 1; SL 1992, ch 1, § 2.
1-6-4.1. Official pledge to state flag--Not recited before pledge to United
States flag. The official pledge to the state flag is: "I pledge loyalty and support to
the flag and State of South Dakota, land of sunshine, land of infinite variety." However,
the pledge to the flag and to the state may not preempt, replace nor be recited before the
pledge of allegiance to the flag of the United States
Source: SL 1987, ch 4, § 1, 2.
1-6-5. Existing flags remain official. All state flags made in conformity
with state law prior to July 1, 1992, shall remain official state flags but the creation of
a state flag from and after that date, other than in conformity with § 1-6-4, is prohibited.
Source: SDC 1939, § 55.0108 as added by SL 1963, ch 419, § 1; SL 1992, ch 1, § 3.
1-6-6. Sale and loan of state flags--Revolving account. It shall be the duty
of the Bureau of Administration to acquire, by purchase or otherwise, and to keep on hand at
all times a sufficient quantity of the South Dakota state flags as specified in § 1-6-4, for
distribution, loan, or sale, as it may determine, in order to meet the demand therefor from
various public, semipublic and private organizations or persons. All funds from the sale of
such flags shall be covered into, and there is hereby created within the state treasury, a
revolving account known as the special state flag account, from which payments shall be made
by the bureau for the purchase of state flags and their replacements as it may deem sufficient
from time to time. Requests for the loan of such state flags shall be filled under such rules
and regulations as the bureau may establish.
Source: SL 1963, ch 419, § 2; SL 1966, ch 171.
The Flags of the US.
