Stats are in and JockJoose Sports Network is in nearly every home in the United States.

Except for South Dakota, who have registered a whopping zero visits since our Spring ‘09 launch.

Therefore, we are deeming the rest of this week South Dakota week in an effort to appeal to our friends in the Mount Rushmore State. Let’s first begin our tribute by enlightening the rest of our readers with some fun facts.

* The state population is but 754,844.

* The official state animal is the coyote.

* The state sport is the rodeo.

* The Black Hills are the highest mountains east of the Rockies.

* The largest underground gold mine is the Homestake Mine in Lead.

* Visitors to South Dakota’s Badlands National Park will find fossil evidence of 35 million years of evolution – a dog-sized camel, three-toed horse, and saber-toothed cat.

* It is illegal to lie down and fall asleep in a cheese factory.

* Rumor has it that the tradition of spreading saw dust on the floors of bars and saloons started in Deadwood, South Dakota due to the amount of gold dust that would fall on the floor. The saw dust was used to hide the fallen gold dust and was swept up at the end of the night.

* Pierre, South Dakota is the only example of a state and capital in the U.S. that don’t share any letters.

* Clark is the Potato Capital of South Dakota. It is also the home of a Mashed Potato Wrestling contest.

* Mt. Rushmore was called Mountain of Rock before the presidential faces were carved.

* Famous South Dakotans include newscaster, Tom Brokaw, Calamity Jane, Theodore Roosevelt, Sitting Bull, and Crazy Horse

* The U.S.S. South Dakota was the most decorated battleship during World War II.

* In South Dakota prison inmates are required to pay for their incarceration costs if they do not have other financial obligations. Parents are responsible for juveniles.

Tags: cheese factory, coyote, mashed potato wrestling contest, mount rushmore, pierre, south dakota