How South Dakota Ranks For Veteran Support And Well-Being

Each year on Veterans Day, we take time to honor those who have served so bravely and so proudly to defend the freedoms that we sometimes take for granted.

And while we recognize those who have worn the uniform on this special day, it's what we do for our Veterans on the other 364 days of the year that matters most.

In that regard, South Dakota is doing it right.

Inside the Study

According to a new study by King Stahlman Bail Bonds, the Mount Ruyshmolre State is among the top ten places in America where veterans have the best opportunities to thrive, examining factors such as health and wellness, housing, business ownership, and income.

After crushing numbers from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, U.S. Department of Labor, U.S. Census Bureau, Veterans Data Portal, and America’s Health Rankings
Veteran Voices Military Research, South Dakota was ranked as the tenth best state for Veterans.

South Dakota Shines

The state is home to one of the largest populations of Vets in the nation (8.1%), which is the second highest among the top ten states. South Dakota also has the lowest percentage of Veterans living in inadequate housing (22.1 percent) in the top ten. Vet-owned businesses are also thriving in the state at a 9.74% rate among all businesses, which is third best among the top ten states.

Best States for Veterans

Maryland
Virginia
Hawaii
Massachusetts
Connecticut
Utah
Vermont
Rhode Island
Alaska
South Dakota

On the downside, Veterans in South Dakota have the highest percentage of Vets living in poverty (6.6%) and the second-highest suicide rate among the top ten states.

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From Blockbusters to Hidden Gems: 35 Movies That Take Place in South Dakota

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We're all familiar with the blockbusters like 1990's Dances With Wolves, 1959's North By Northwest, and more recently, 2007's National Treasure: Book of Secrets. But our state's life on the big screen goes back nearly 100 years.

According to IMDb, it all started with Courtin' Wildcats, a 1929 film which, like so many of the 29 films on this list, is a Western set in the time before South Dakota became a state in 1889.

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