South Dakota State Flag

Annin Nyl-Glo South Dakota State Flag

Just as "one size fits all" rarely fits anyone well, one flag material simply isn't the best choice for all environments. That's why we offer you a choice of materials for our commercial-grade outdoor South Dakota state flags.

Our rugged SpectraPro 2-ply polyester South Dakota state flags are made for us in the US by Valley Forge Flag and are designed for use in windier and drier climates.

Our durable Nyl-Glo nylon South Dakota state flags are made here in America by Annin & Co. and are the best choice for moderate wind and wetter environments. If in doubt, try Nyl-Glo—you'll get a super-durable flag plus it won't take as much out of your wallet.

If you want more detailed information about flag fabrics and construction, just look for the appropriate tab above.

A Short History of the South Dakota State Flag

When most people hear the phrase, "the Sunshine State", they immediately think of Florida. But it was not that long ago that the term belonged to South Dakota.

The original design for the state flag of South Dakota was created by Ida Anding in 1909 at the request of Senator Ernest May. The flag Anding designed depicted a yellow "blazing sun" centered on a light blue background with the name of the state in a semi-circle above and the phrase, "The Sunshine State" in a semi-circle below. May added the State Seal to the back side of the flag when he introduced a bill to adopt the flag that year, so for many years, the State flag had two completely different sides.

In 1963, in an effort to make the State flag less expensive to make, the State Seal was superimposed over the sun image, thus both sides could now be the same. Then, in 1966, after adoption of "The Mount Rushmore State" as a state nickname, the flag was officially changed to reflect the new nickname and "The Sunshine State" was ceded to Florida.