The Archives contains naturalization records for almost all of the counties in South Dakota. Census records dating back to the 1860 s are useful when tracing a family s entrance into South Dakota. Dams, power plants and irrigation projects dramatically changed much of the state. Missouri River development is documented in the records of several government agencies. These include the Public Utilities Commission , the Department of Environment and Natural Resources , the Department of Game Fish and Parks , the Department of Transportation, the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation records for the Missouri River Basin Project, the Water Resources Commission , the Tri-State Water Commission , and papers of Governor M.Q. Sharpe and George T. Mickelson .
Agriculture continues to be the leading industry in South Dakota.
Students reviewing records from the Department of Agriculture will discover how the evolution of agriculture methods changed the industry and impacted the state economy. Missouri River development, soil conservation, forestry conservation, regulations and inspections, and surface mining are a few of the subjects found under the Department of Agriculture . Historical records of the state 4-H , FFA , and FHA programs show how new technologies were taught to young people. Complementing these government collections are records from non-government sources. Students interested in missionary work among the American Indians can find information in the papers of Mary Collins , the Riggs family , and Bishop Hare .