1. On February 19, 1861, the Dakota Territory was established. It encompassed parts of what is now North Dakota, South Dakota, Montana, and Wyoming.

2. In 1934, the first formal meeting of the Black Hills Roundup Association took place in Belle Fourche, South Dakota. The Roundup is an annual rodeo event that has been held every summer since 1918.

3. On February 19, 1976, the Great Plains Zoo in Sioux Falls opened its doors to the public. It started with just 50 animals and has since grown to house over 1,000 animals from around the world.

4. In 1987, a major snowstorm hit South Dakota on February 19th and 20th, dumping up to 25 inches of snow in some areas. The storm caused widespread power outages, stranded motorists, and closed schools and businesses.

5. On February 19, 2011, the South Dakota state basketball tournament was moved from the Sioux Falls Arena to the Rushmore Plaza Civic Center in Rapid City due to a roof collapse at the Sioux Falls facility. The tournament had to be rescheduled and teams had to scramble to make travel arrangements.