South Dakota is known for its rolling Black Hills, the Mount Rushmore National Monument, and, oddly enough, a mashed potato wrestling contest. The state also has business-friendly laws, low taxes, and a rich and lively culture, grounded in the larger history of the settlement of the West.
We are licensed to perform local moves in New Jersey to relocate customers to any location in the continental United States, including South Dakota.
White Glove is also happy to offer a flat price on your long distance move. Our prices are based on your inventory rather than charging based on factors like weight or cubic feet. This helps eliminate variable on the move day and gives our consumers complete control over your price and removes all surprises.
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If you are moving from New Jersey to South Dakota, you are probably looking for a different kind of life. You will certainly find one in The Mount Rushmore State. You should gather as much information as you can about the state before your move. Here's what you need to know.
Although the agricultural sector is huge in South Dakota, contributing $20 billion annually to the economy, farming and food production are not the only industries in the state. South Dakota is undergoing an employment boom. Industrial machinists and IT service technicians are the fastest growing job categories.
Healthcare and education are the two other industries that continue to grow and show the most promise. Banking is another. Indeed, one of the biggest reasons for the recent growth in South Dakota’s economy owes to the relocation of large banks to the state. The state’s liberalized banking laws have attracted Citibank, which relocated its credit card operations to Sioux Falls, and Wells Fargo.
Overall, the state has been ranked fourth in the nation for job growth. It should also be noted that at $8.85 an hour the state minimum wage is higher than the current federal minimum wage and that there is no state income tax.
U.S. News ranked South Dakota 11th for affordability and 26th for cost of living. Although housing cost is low, other living expenses are level with the national average. The average home value in the state is $181,800 and average rent price is $1,080. The cost of housing will probably increase slightly in the coming year. However, new construction and the establishment of new resident communities continue apace.
South Dakota is a largely rural state with a great many small towns and farming communities, which means there is plenty of space to expand. Office parks and business clusters form in various places throughout the state but are concentrated primarily in Sioux Falls and Brookings, the largest cities. You will not find the same kind of quality housing at affordable pricing in the so-called Badlands of the state.
There are less than a million people in South Dakota. What you will find outside of Sioux Falls, Brookings, and Rapid City are small towns that are sparsely populated and rural. South Dakota is the 17th largest state, but the fifth least populated. This is one of the things that keeps the cost of housing and living in check. There is not much of a demand for anything. There is always an adequate supply of housing (sometimes an oversupply) and most consumer goods are made in the state, which saves on the costs associated with shipping.
With the rural nature of the state comes small town geniality. The people of South Dakota are known for their welcoming and honest nature. Even in the larger cities, you will find the atmosphere and attitude of the prairie—one of plain speaking, friendliness, courtesy, and neighborly assistance. This is the essence of small town life.
It should also be noted that the overwhelming majority of South Dakotans (85%) are Christians and politically conservative, as evidenced by the fact that the state has voted for Republican presidents since 1964.
However, you should not draw conclusions from this. Like other western states, a strong libertarian streak runs through conservativism of South Dakotans. Most people have a live and let live attitude. Recent polling on LGBTQ issues, for instance, finds that 52% of South Dakotans support same-sex marriage while only 38% oppose. The same poll found that 62% of residents support an anti-discrimination law that covers sexual orientation and gender identity.
You will not find many museums, art galleries, performance theaters, and other venues of high culture in South Dakota. However, you will have a great choice of outdoor adventures to pursue. Here are some of the places you should see:
Deadwood
This is a National Historic Landmark. It was home to legends such as Wild Bill Hickok and Calamity Jane. You will also get insight into the state’s gambling history, which was at its peak during the Gold Rush of 1987-1877.Every June, the city hosts the Wild Bill Days Festival.
Custer State Park
This 71,000-acre park is a great spot for hiking, mountain biking, and fishing. It is also a great place for spotting and observing wildlife.
Mount Rushmore National Memorial
This world-famous park, completed in 1941, receives millions of visitors each year. The faces of George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt, and Abraham Lincoln adorn the large granite rock. In addition to seeing these notable likenesses, the mountain itself is one of the most interesting geological formations in the country.
Badlands National Park
Located 75 miles east of Rapid City, the park consists of 244,000 acres of untouched grassland and interesting geological formations. People visit in order to walk among the bison and camp out under its clear star-lit skies. There is little air pollution in South Dakota. On a clear night, you will have full view of the stars and planets in the Milky Way Galaxy. You are unlikely to find a more majestic experience than a clear line of sight of the astronomical heavens.
Sturgis Motorcycle Rally
The tiny South Dakota town of Sturgis hosts a world-famous motorcycle rally every year. Nearly a million people descend on the town to participate in the events and revelry surrounding the rally. It is as much fun for spectators as for active participants.
A run down of what to expect in South Dakota would not be complete without mention of some of its strange laws. Here is a sample of what to watch out for:
The bottom line is that a move to South Dakota will change your life considerably. You will be going from a crowded, congested state to a sparsely populated and widely open state. One of the things you will notice immediately is your commute to and from work. If you settle in a small town, you may need to travel quite a bit to get to work and to other places. However, the roads in South Dakota are not as frustratingly congested with traffic as they are in New Jersey. Even in the larger cities, your commute to and from work will be less than 25 minutes. And if you live in a small town, most of the places you need to get to can be reached in less than an hour.
White Glove is proud to be the only Long-Distance mover in New Jersey & New York to offer, “Long-Distance Price Lock.”
This means the price we quote you before your move is always the price you pay after the move.
No hidden fees, no circumstantial costs, no nickel or diming you for things you didn’t agree to. That’s one of the ways we make your moving day a White Glove experience. Learn more about other commitments we make to our customers.
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