1. In 1889, South Dakota became the 40th state of the United States. November 4th of that year marked the official date of statehood after a long period of territorial government and efforts towards statehood.

2. In 1946, former Governor Harlan J. Bushfield died on November 4th. Bushfield was the state's 13th governor and served from 1939-1943. He also served as a state senator and representative before becoming governor.

3. The respected Oglala Lakota leader, Frank Fools Crow, was born on November 4th, 1890, in what is now Pine Ridge, South Dakota. Fools Crow was a renowned spiritual leader who worked to promote cultural preservation and understanding between Native American communities and American society.

4. In 1973, a fire broke out in Watertown on November 4th, which resulted in significant damage to multiple businesses and properties. The cause of the blaze was never determined, but it is believed to have started in one of the town's oldest structures.

5. South Dakota's 1st Congressional District special election took place on November 4th, 2003, following the death of Representative Bill Janklow. Republican candidate Larry Diedrich won the election, defeating Democratic candidate Stephanie Herseth by a narrow margin. Diedrich would hold the seat until 2005 when Herseth would win a rematch during a general election.