1. On April 23, 1900, the first ever automobile race was held in South Dakota. The race took place in Rapid City and featured two electric cars and one gasoline-powered car.

2. In 1943, on April 23, the US Army Air Corps decided to build a bomber and gunnery range in the Black Hills of South Dakota. This range is now known as the South Dakota Air and Space Museum.

3. On April 23, 2002, the South Dakota State Legislature approved a law requiring that all students in the state recite the Pledge of Allegiance at the beginning of each school day.

4. In 1889, on April 23, South Dakota became the 40th state in the United States. The capital city of South Dakota is Pierre and its largest city is Sioux Falls.

5. Notable South Dakotans born on April 23 include former NFL football player Adam Vinatieri, who played for the Indianapolis Colts and was born in Yankton, and writer and poet Ted Kooser, who was born in Ames and served as the US Poet Laureate from 2004 to 2006.