South Dakota is getting ready to celebrate its 134th birthday on Friday. The Rushmore State officially became a state on November 3rd, 1889.

The state certainly has a storied history over the years, that is filled with deep-rooted nostalgia and a number of beautiful cities, both small and large that are each unique in their own right.

According to folks at WorldAtlas.com, here are the Top 5 Oldest Towns in South Dakota that were founded before South Dakota officially became a state.

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#5 The City of Madison

Madison located right in the heart of South Dakota was founded in 1880 by pioneers exploring this region of the country. According to WorldAtlas.com over the past decade-plus, the city of Madison has grown to become a vibrant-close nit community that can now boast a population base of over 6,000 residents. This small  South Dakota town is best known for being the home to Dakota State University.

#4 The City of Deadwood

Established in 1876, Deadwood spawned out of the gold rush era. Deep inside the picturesque Black Hills, the town of Deadwood truly has one of the most storied histories of any South Dakota town. As WorldAtlas reports, the Old West era has helped to make the town of Deadwood famous worldwide. Larger-than-life characters like Wild Bill Hickok, Seth Bullock, and Calamity Jane add to this small South Dakota town's allure. After all, who didn't love the HBO series "Deadwood" which beautifully illustrated life in this tiny little South Dakota town during the 1880s?

#3 The City of Yankton

Yankton officially became a South Dakota city in the year 1869. According to WorldAtlas.com, the city of Yankton derived its name from the Yankton Sioux Tribe who inhabited that area of the state near the Missouri River. Yankton's early economy thrived on agriculture and still does to this day, although, the city has diversified throughout the years adding many manufacturing jobs to help support its population base of nearly 16,000 people.

#2 The City of Vermillion

This small South Dakota town was founded in 1859. Again a group of pioneers established this community in the late 19th century and since that time a mix of cowboys, ranchers, and soldiers have helped to shape its history over the years. Today the city of Vermillion is home to over 12,000 people and is also the home of one of South Dakota's largest education institutes, the University of South Dakota.

#1 The City of Sioux Falls

Founded in 1856, South Dakota's largest city is also its oldest. The city of Sioux Falls emerged on the scene in the mid-1800s thanks to the aspirations of a group of land speculators. The city of course claims its name from the cascading waterfalls of the Big Sioux River. And, as WorldAtlas.com reports, over the past 167 years, Sioux Falls has grown to be one of the most vibrant communities in all of America, rich in jobs, scenic beauty, and a great quality of life. All perfect reasons why nearly 204,000 people now call Sioux Falls their home.

Source: WorldAtlas.com