Sioux Falls

As of 2020, Sioux Falls had a population of 192,517, which was estimated in 2022 to have increased to 202,600. The Sioux Falls metro area accounts for more than 30% of the state's population. Chartered in 1856 on the banks of the Big Sioux River, the city is situated in the rolling hills at the junction of interstates 29 and 90. It is the county seat of Minnehaha County and also extends into Lincoln County to the south, which continues up to the Iowa state line. Indigenous people maintained an agricultural society with fortified villages, and the later arrivals rebuilt on many of the same sites that were previously settled. The first documented visit by an American of European descent was by Philander Prescott, who camped overnight at the falls in December 1832. The arrival of the railroads ushered in the great Dakota Boom decade of the 1880s. A severe plague of grasshoppers and a national depression halted the boom by the early 1890s. The city grew by only 89 people from 1890 to 1900. Much of the growth in the first part of the 20th century was fueled by agriculturally based industry such as the nearby stockyards (one of the largest in the nation) In 1955, the neighboring city of South Sioux Falls decided to consolidate with Sioux Falls. It was the third largest city in the county after Sioux Falls and Dell Rapids. In 1981, Citibank relocated its primary credit card center from New York City to Sioux Falls to take advantage of recently relaxed state usury laws.

History

Sioux Falls is the primary city name, but also Buffalo Ridge are acceptable city names or spellings, Ellis on the other hand no longer accepted or obsolete and are no longer used as a designation. The official name is Sioux Falls. French voyagers/explorers visited the area in the early 18th century. Fort Dakota, a military reservation established in present-day downtown, was established in May 1865. The population of Sioux Falls mushroomed from 2,164 in 1880 to 10,167 at the close of the decade. In 1955 the city decided to consolidate the neighboring incorporated city of South Sioux Falls. Citibank relocated from New York City to Sioux Falls in 1981 to take advantage of recently relaxed state usury laws. The city's population increased from 81,182 in 1980 to 192,517 in 2020, with the city's economy centered on health care, finance, and retail trade. Sioux Falls was hit by three EF2 tornadoes on September 10, 2019. The tornado damaged at least 37 buildings, including the Shopping Plaza. The town was evacuated in August of that year when two local settlers were killed as a result of the Dakota War of 1862 engulfed nearby southwestern Minnesota. It was the third largest city in the county after Sioux Falls and Dell Rapids. The first documented visit by an American of European descent was by Philander Prescott, who camped overnight at the falls in December 1832. In 1844 Captain James Allen led a military expedition out of Fort Des Moines in 1844. Jacob Ferris described the Falls in his 1856 book "The States and Territories of the Great West". Two separate groups, the Dakota Land Company of St. Paul and the Western Town Company of Dubuque, Iowa organized in 1856 to claim the land around the falls.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the city has an area of 73.47 square miles (190.29 km²) The Sioux Falls Metropolitan Statistical Area consists of four South Dakota counties: Lincoln, McCook, Minnehaha, and Turner. The estimated population of this MSA in 2017 was 259,094, an increase of 13.51% from the 2010 census. According to recent estimates, Lincoln County is the 16th-fastest-growing county in the United States. Sioux Falls has a humid continental climate (Köppen Dfa) characterized by hot, humid summers and cold, dry winters. Snowfall occurs mostly in light to moderate amounts during the winter, totaling 45.3 inches (115 cm) annually. Precipitation, at 27.85 inches (707 mm) annually, is concentrated in the warmer months. This results in frequent thunderstorms in summer from convection being built up with the unstable weather patterns. In addition to Sioux Falls, the metropolitan area includes Canton, Brandon, Dell Rapids, Tea, Harrisburg, Worthing, Beresford, Lennox, Hartford, Crooks, Baltic, Montrose, Salem, Renner, Rowena, Chancellor, Colton, Humboldt, Parker, Hurley, Garretson, Sherman, Corson, Viborg, Irene, and Centerville. The city is in extreme eastern South Dakota, about 15 miles (24 km) west of the Minnesota border.

Demographics

As of the census of 2010, there were 153,888 people, 61,707 households, and 37,462 families residing in the city. In 2015, the median household income in Minnehaha County, SD was $59,884, while Lincoln County,SD was $76,094. The median family income for Sioux Falls was $74,632 in 2015. By 1890, one-third of the residents of South Dakota were immigrants. Most Sioux Falls residents are Lutheran; Catholics are the second-largest group. Many European immigrants, primarily from Scandinavia, Germany and the British Isles, settled in South Dakota in the 19th century. The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America is the largest Lutheran denomination in the City, with 20 churches in Sioux Falls. The average household size was 2.40 and the average family size was 3.02. Out of the total population, 16.8% of those under the age of 18 and 8.8%. of those 65 and older were living below the poverty line. The city's median age was 33.6 years, and the gender makeup of the city was 49.6% male and 50.4% female. The population density was 2,109.2 inhabitants per square mile (814.4/km²). There were 66,283 housing units at an average density of 908.5 per squaremile (350.8/ km²). The racial makeup ofthe city was 86.8 % White, 4.2% African American, 2.7% Native American, 1.8%, Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, and 2.5% from two or more races.

Economy

Sioux Falls is home to a number of financial companies. Wells Fargo and Citigroup are the city's largest employers. The Smithfield Foods/John Morrell meatpacking plant is the third-largest employer. The manufacturing and food processing sector remains an important component of Sioux Falls's economy. The city's lack of a state corporate income tax is partially due to the state's low corporate tax rate, which is lower than the national average. The state also has a lower state income tax rate than most other U.S. states, making it easier for companies to locate and expand in the state. It is also easier for firms to relocate and expand their operations in the U.K. and Canada. It's also easier to start and grow a business in Sioux Falls than it is in many other states, which makes it easier to attract and keep top talent in the city. It also makes it more attractive to recruit top talent to the city, which has a higher unemployment rate than many other cities in South Dakota. The U. S. Census Bureau estimates that Sioux Falls has a population of 1.2 million. The average household income is $50,000. The rate of growth is 2.7 per cent, according to the 2011 Census, the lowest rate of any state in the United States. The unemployment rate is 1.8 per cent and the rate of inflation is 0.9 per cent. The economy is projected to grow at a rate of 2.4 per cent in the next few years.

Arts and culture

SiouxperCon is an annual nonprofit fan convention that celebrates comic books, sci-fi, fantasy, anime, board games, and video gaming. The Sioux Empire Arts Council continues to lead in the Sioux Falls area arts scene and gives out Mayor's Awards each year in several categories for excellence demonstrated by Sioux Falls residents. A permanent Northern Plains Tribal Arts collection is housed in the Egger Gallery at the Washington Pavilion. Sioux Falls mayor's awards in literary arts designated movers and shakers during the growth and development of the literary arts scene. It is free to the public to attend the three-day Sioux Falls Jazz Festival held the third weekend in July at Yankton Trail Park. Each year the series includes approximately five musicians from all over the world with all acts from the world, including all-star acts from around the world. The festival is held on the weekend of July 3-4, 2013, with tickets available for $10.

Sports

Sioux Falls has several multipurpose athletic stadiums. Sioux Falls Stadium hosted the 2007 American Association of Independent Professional Baseball all-star game. The Denny Sanford Premier Center is home to the Summit League's men's and women's basketball tournaments. The Premier Center also hosted the 2017 USHL/NHL Top Prospects Game. The Sioux Falls Canaries were known as the Sioux Falls Fighting Pheasants from 2010 to 2013. They are currently playing in the National Basketball League of America (NBL) and the American Hockey League (AHL) The Canaries are a member of the American South Division of the National Football League (NFL) and play in the American League of American Football (AFL) The team is currently playing for the Colorado Rockies in the league's Western Division. The team's name is the Sioux Falls Canaries and was formerly known as the Sioux Falls Fighting Pheasant's. The Canaries are currently playing the Colorado Rockies in the American League of Football (ALF). The team also plays for the American League of Hockey (ALH), which was known as the The Colorado Leafs from 2010 to 2013. The Canary's previous name was the Sioux Fell Fells Fighting Phea's, which played in the National League of Hockey (NHL) from 2011 to 2013. The football team also played for the Minnesota Lions in the National League of Hockey.

Government

The city of Sioux Falls is led by a mayorcouncil (strong mayor) form of government. Mayoral elections occur every four years. The council consists of five members elected to represent specific sections of the city and three additional seats that represent the city as a whole. Sioux Falls operates under a home rule charter as permitted by the South Dakota constitution. In the 2004 presidential election, George W. Bush won both Minnehaha and Lincoln counties, receiving 56% and 65% of the vote, respectively. In 2008, Barack Obama won MinneHaha County by 0.7%, while John McCain won Lincoln County by 15%. Both counties have voted for the Republican nominee in every presidential election since 2012. The city is located on the banks of the Missouri River, which flows into the Red River. The Red River is a tributary of the Big Sioux River. It is the largest river in South Dakota, with an estimated population of 1.2 million. The river is the only one of the five major rivers in the state to have a population of over 100,000. It was the site of the Battle of the Blue River, in which the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers fought a major battle in World War II. The Sioux Falls area has been home to the Sioux Falls High School football team since the 1950s. The school was founded in 1855 and has a mascot, the "Sioux Falls Highlanders" The city's mascot is a Sioux Falls Sioux, which means "the Sioux Falls Fighting Sioux".

Education

Sioux Falls is home to Augustana University, the University of Sioux Falls, and the South Dakota Public Universities and Research Center (formerly known as USDSU) The Sioux Falls School District serves over 23,000 students living in Sioux Falls and some of its surrounding suburbs. There are 25 elementary schools, seven middle schools, and six high schools, including Bishop O'Gorman Catholic Schools. Other private schools include Sioux Falls Christian Schools, Christian Center, The Baan Dek Montessori, Cornerstone School and the Open Arms Christian Child Development Center. The Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod has two schools: Bethel Lutheran and Good Shepherd Lutheran. Sioux Falls Lutheran School is on 37th street, while the Lutheran High School of Sioux falls is on Western Avenue. In 2018, voters approved a plan to move Sioux Falls Lutherans School to a new building near the I-29/I-229 merge on south Boe Lane. Students moved to the new building at the beginning of the Spring 2020 semester. The South Dakota School for the Deaf is located in the city. The city is also home to the National American University, National American College of Recording Arts and Sciences, and South Dakota State University's Sanford School of Medicine. The University of South Dakota is based in the Sioux Falls campus of Augustana, which was founded in 1883. It is one of the largest universities in the state, with more than 2,000 faculty members and students. It also has a number of colleges and institutes of higher education.

Air Quality, Water Quality, Superfund Sites & UV Index

The Air Quality index is in Sioux Falls, Lincoln County, South Dakota = 97. These Air Quality index is based on annual reports from the EPA. Higher values are better (100=best). The number of ozone alert days is used as an indicator of air quality, as are the amounts of seven pollutants including particulates, carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, lead, and volatile organic chemicals. The Water Quality Index is 20. A measure of the quality of an area’s water supply as rated by the EPA. Higher values are better (100=best). The EPA has a complex method of measuring the watershed quality, using 15 indicators such as pollutants, turbidity, sediments, and toxic discharges. The Superfund Sites Index is 70. Higher is better (100=best). Based upon the number and impact of EPA Superfund pollution sites in the county, including spending on the cleanup efforts. The UV Index in Sioux Falls = 3.7 and is a measure of an area's exposure to the sun's ultraviolet rays. This is most often a combination of sunny weather, altitude, and latitude. The UV Index has been defined by the WHO (www.who.int/news-room/questions-and-answers/item/radiation-the-ultraviolet-(uv)-index) and is uniform worldwide.

Employed

The most recent city population of 192,517 individuals with a median age of 35.1 age the population grows by 28.76% in Sioux Falls, Lincoln County, South Dakota population since 2000 and are distributed over a density of 2,387.25 residents per square mile of area (921.72/km²). There are average 2.4 people per household in the 63,796 households with an average household income of $48,163 a year. The unemployment rate in Alabama is of the available work force and has dropped -2.43% over the most recent 12-month period and the projected change in job supply over the next decade based on migration patterns, economic growth, and other factors will increase by 30.04%. The number of physicians in Sioux Falls per 100,000 population = 306.5.

Weather

The annual rainfall in Sioux Falls = 24.7 inches and the annual snowfall = 40.4 inches. The annual number of days with measurable precipitation (over .01 inch) = 98. The average number of days per year that are predominantly sunny = 211. 86 degrees Fahrenheit is the average daily high temperature for the month of July and 4 degrees Fahrenheit is the average daily low temperature for the month of January. The Comfort Index (higher=better) is 44, where higher values mean a more pleasant climate. The Comfort Index measure recognizes that humidity by itself isn't the problem. (Have you noticed nobody ever complains about the weather being 'cold and humid?) It's in the summertime that we notice the humidity the most, when it's hot and muggy. Our Comfort Index uses a combination of afternoon summer temperature and humidity to closely predict the effect that the humidity will have on people.

Median Home Cost

The percentage of housing units in Sioux Falls, Lincoln County, South Dakota which are owned by the occupant = 59.44%. A housing unit is a house, apartment, mobile home, or room occupied as separate living quarters. The average age of homes = 25 years with median home cost = $139,000 and home appreciation of -1.49%. This is the value of the years most recent home sales data. Its important to note that this is not the average (or arithmetic mean). The median home price is the middle value when you arrange all the sales prices of homes from lowest to highest. This is a better indicator than the average, because the median is not changed as much by a few unusually high or low values. The property tax rate of $15.92 shown here is the rate per $1,000 of home value. If for simplification for example the tax rate is $14.00 and the home value is $250,000, the property tax would be $14.00 x ($250,000/1000), or $3500. This is the 'effective' tax rate.

Study

The local school district spends $4,430 per student. There are 15.9 students for each teacher in the school, 903 students for each Librarian and 407 students for each Counselor. 8.02% of the area’s population over the age of 25 with an Associate Degree or other 2-year college degree, 21.02% with a master’s degree, Ph.D. or other advanced college degree and 7.83% with high school diplomas or high school equivalency degrees (GEDs).