Sioux Falls, South Dakota

Located in the state of South Dakota, Sioux Falls is not only the largest city of the state but also the 47th fastest growing city of the US. The city and its surrounding region are also known as the Sioux Empire. The city sees a fair amount of tourist inflow since it is located right at the junction of Interstate 90 and Interstate 29.

Sioux Falls boasts of a continental climate where the winters are drier with moderate snowfall while the summers tend to get quite humid and hot. The city's parks and greenways lend it a lush green look, which makes Sioux Falls quite popular. The water falls and rivers here add to the scenic beauty of the place and also make for some real cool and breezy evenings.

Apart from the churches and old age architecture, one can also experience great depths of art in the city. Playing host to several art and sculpture events, the city ensures that the first Friday of every summer month throws a gala of evening show for locals and tourists alike. Filled with prominent landmarks and intriguing history behind each of these landmarks, the city is a delight for the traveler in more ways than one.

Sioux Falls is a great place to live in. The city also has a bustling nightlife, various places to eat, places to see and can also offer you a great shopping experience. It is also an area of history and culture.

Sioux Falls History

Sioux Falls was chartered in the year 1856 on the banks of the Big Sioux River. The area was granted a city charter on March 3, 1883 by the Dakota Territorial legislature. The waterfalls of the river played a huge role in attracting settlers to this area. French voyagers mapped the area in the 18th century, which was followed by the visit from Philander Prescott who was the first American of European decent to visit the area.

In was in the 1856 that the Dakota Land Company and the Western Town Company of St. Paul and Dubuque respectively laid claim to the area around the falls. Each took over a patch of 320 acres and decided to work in collaboration for the development of the falls and the settlement around it.

It was the Dakota War of 1962 that damaged nearly all of Minnesota which resulted in the evacuation of the city. In fact, the people of the town were moved to Yankton in August of 1862, following the killings of two people of Sioux Falls. In 1865, Fort Dakota was established and this heartened the people enough to have them slowly settle back into the area. The fort can be seen in downtown Sioux Falls even today.

While the building boom arrived in 1873, it was the railroad of the 1880s that bought great prosperity to the city. Several new settlers flowed into the city till the depression of the 1890s put a stop to this growth. It was the meat packing John Morrell plant that was set up in 1909 that rejuvenated the city. From then on the airbase and a military radio and communications training school in 1942 and the interstate highways in 1960s ensured that the city grew to its potential without a single halt.

In 1955, there was a move to consolidate the city with the neighboring South Sioux Falls thus making the city larger. Once Citibank moved its primary credit card center from New York to Sioux Falls in 1981, there was no stopping the growth of the city which became a huge attraction for people due to the increased job opportunities here and the well controlled law and order situation.

About Sioux Falls, South Dakota

While Sioux Falls is the county seat for Minnehaha County, it also spills over to the adjoining Lincoln County. The city has grown a phenomenal 22% since the 2000 census to the 2010 census. According to the latter, the population of the city was a vast 153,888 which is 28% of the total population of the state of South Dakota.

The 2006 survey showed that the community here was 88.9% White, which is a huge majority. The Native Americans and African Americans were 1.3% and 2.2% respectively. This tip towards a white population is mainly because the city was largely settled by European immigrants.

Located on the banks of the Big Sioux River, the city is known for its prime location. There are over 50 parks in the city of which the Fall Park is the most well known. The Terrace Park, the Sherman Park and the Yankton Trail Park are a few others that should not be missed either. Those with a love for angling will find that the city provides an Outdoor Campus where these activities can be pursued.

Governed by a Mayor-Council form of government, Sioux Falls enjoys a stable political scenario where the mayor is elected every four years. In fact, the crime rate of the city is also extremely low making it a huge attraction for settlers and visitors.

The city does not adopt the state corporate income tax law due to which there are a lot of financial corporations working here. The Wells Fargo and Citigroup are two very important financial companies that work from Sioux Falls. Apart from this the economy also rests on shopping, entertainment, and hospitality. The Bridges and Empire Mall are two of the main shopping areas here.

In terms of architecture the city has a lot to offer too. The St. Joseph Cathedral is a wonderful building in the city. The Great Plains Zoo & Delbridge Museum is a prominent tourist attraction of Sioux Falls. The city also offers a replica of Michelangelo's David that stands tall in the Fawick Park.

The Sculpture walk held every summer is a huge crowd puller where the sculptures are changed annually. There is also the concept of First Friday followed in the city, where the first Friday of every summer month is hosted by one of the businesses by organizing an evening event in the downtown region.

About Minnehaha County, South Dakota

A county of South Dakota, Minnehaha's county seat is Sioux Falls. The county name is inspired by the Sioux Indian word 'Mnihaha', which means rapid water. The water falls of the region are said to be the basis of the name.

In the year 1870 the county had a population of 355 people only. However, the 2010 census showed that the population of the county had grown to 169,468 people. The median household income in the county according to the 2000 census was $42,566.

The county covers an area of 814 square miles of which only four square miles is water. The main source of water in the region is the Big Sioux River that flows through the county.

The county houses twenty four towns of which Brandon, Clear Lake, Dell Rapids, Edison, Grand Meadow, Humboldt, Lyons and Mapleton are a few. There are also 11 lakes in the county and of these the Loss Lake, Wall Lake, Scott Lake and Clear Lake deserve special mention. Interstate 29, 90 and 299 are few of the important highways that run through the county.

The Minnehaha County is flanked on the north by the Moody County while the southern side has Lincoln County to show for. On the east lies the Rock County and the western side is bordered by the McCook County. Completely landlocked, the county depends solely on its lake and the Big Sioux River for water supply.

There are several places of historical significance in the county and the All Saints Historic District and the All Saints School main Building are a few of them. The Brooks Brothers home and the Carpenters Hotel deserve special mention too. The county also houses historical town sites like East Sioux Falls, South Sioux Fall and Eminija. Crooks, Baltic and Valley Springs are few important cities of the County.