South Dakota is just brimming with natural beauty, and our larger cities have amazing art, craft beer, restaurants, parks and museums. But is South Dakota cool? It’s not usually a word you hear associated with the state that’s best known for its huge faces of presidents carved into the side of a mountain. However, we do have one small town that is the epitome of cool. Take a look.

The little town of Sturgis is home to fewer than 7,000 people. Its Main Street is quaint and quiet.

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It’s a town with a rich, vibrant history of nearby Fort Meade and the U.S. Cavalry.

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Sturgis is a close-knit community that celebrates throughout the year. It’s the kind of place where everyone knows your name.

City of Sturgis SD/Facebook

Eight city parks provide safe play spaces for kids and adults alike.

City of Sturgis SD/Facebook

The Community Center is another gathering place, with its pool, weight and cardio rooms, and gym.

City of Sturgis SD/Facebook

The town is surrounded by the natural beauty of the Black Hills, which provide plenty of fishing, hiking and other outdoor activities.

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Volunteerism is a regular occurrence in Sturgis - you’ll even find high school kids getting in on the action.

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Even the liquor store has a community vibe, hosting regular wine tastings. The store has more than 1,400 varieties of locally-produced wine.

City of Sturgis SD/Facebook

While all of these features make Sturgis an amazing place to be, most of South Dakota’s small towns can boast similar amenities and cherish a true sense of community. So what makes Sturgis cool? Maybe its huge motorcycle rally.

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Motorcycle enthusiasts consider Sturgis their Mecca - it is THE place to be every August. This small town of 7,000 turns into a huge party with more than 700,000 happy revelers. The Sturgis Motorcycle Rally has been going strong for 77 years, and the legend continues.

City of Sturgis SD/Facebook

Fabulous food, events and bands like Lynyrd Skynyrd and Ozzy Osbourne are just a few of the cool things you’ll find at the country’s largest motorcycle rally.

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Is there anything cooler than this?

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What’s your favorite thing about Sturgis?

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J Stephen Conn/flickr

City of Sturgis SD/Facebook

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Paola A./Tripadvisor

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South Dakota has lots of other cool towns. Here are 15 towns where everyone knows your name.

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