USA - South Dakota - The Mount Rushmore State

Map and information about the U.S. State of South Dakota.

Sent by Larry from New Jersey, USA.

The Many Nicknames of South Dakota

The Mount Rushmore State.

The Sunshine State.

The Swinged Cat State.

Of all the nicknames for South Dakota, perhaps none is more unusual than” The Swinged Cat State.”

This nickname originated from remarks made by South Dakota’s first governor, Arthur C. Mellette, according to an article from the South Dakota State Historical Society – State Archives.

In 1890, South Dakota was in the midst of a drought. Mellette was doing everything in his power to help settlers and keep them from leaving the state. On a trip to Chicago for aid, Mellette was met by Moses P. Handy, a friend and newspaperman. Handy asked Mellette, “Well, governor, how is South Dakota?”

Mellette replied, “Oh, South Dakota is a swinged cat, better than she looks.”

By swinged, Mellette meant “burnt” or “singed,” according to the article.\

The next day, the Chicago Inter Ocean newspaper had a story about Mellette, governor of the “swinged cat State.” (read more)