Sioux Falls

by The Linguist

With a population of 193,554 as of 2022, Sioux Falls is the largest city in the U.S. state of South Dakota. It is located in the southeastern part of the state, and serves as the county seat of Minnehaha County.

History

Sioux Falls was originally founded in 1856. The city experienced growth in the late 19th century following the construction of the railroads across the region. The economy was largely based around quarrying and agriculture initially, but began to diversify in the early 20th century. Major flooding in 1969 led to the creation of diversion canals and ramped up flood control measures in the area.

Geography and Climate

Sioux Falls has a humid continental climate, characterized by hot summers and cold, snowy winters. January high temperatures average around 31°F, while July highs average in the mid 80s. The average annual precipitation is around 26 inches.

Sioux Falls is located at the junction of the Big Sioux River and the Missouri River. The landscape consists of rolling hills, plains, and steep river valleys. There are several parks located along the riverfront area.

Demographics

According to the latest census data, Sioux Falls has a population of 193,554 people. The racial makeup of the city is 84.6% White, 6.3% Black or African American, 2.5% Asian, 4.8% Hispanic or Latino, 1.8% Two or More Races, and 1.4% American Indian or Alaska Native.

Sioux Falls has seen steady population growth over the past several decades. Between 1990 and 2000, the population grew by over 20%. The growth rate slowed between 2000 and 2010 to a still healthy 14.5% increase. From 2010 to 2020, the population grew by another 18.7%.

Economy and Major Employers

Some of the major industries and employers in Sioux Falls include:

  • Healthcare – Major providers include Sanford Health and Avera Health
  • Finance – Citibank and Wells Fargo both have major operations located in Sioux Falls
  • Agriculture and Food Production – Smithfield Foods has a major pork processing plant in the region
  • Retail – Walmart and Hy-Vee Foods both have regional centers in Sioux Falls
  • Technology – IBM, Microsoft, and Oracle all have facilities in the city

The largest employers in Sioux Falls are Sanford Health (15,044 employees), Avera Health (7,100 employees), Citibank (4,500 employees), the Sioux Falls School District (2,871 employees), and Smithfield Foods (2,600 employees).

The median household income in Sioux Falls is $65,094, and the unemployment rate as of June 2022 was 1.9%.

Attractions

Some of the top attractions and things to do in Sioux Falls include:

Sports Teams

Sioux Falls has a few minor league and semi-professional sports teams, including:

The city has also hosted NCAA Division I basketball tournaments at the Denny Sanford Premier Center.

Government

Sioux Falls utilizes a city commission style of government. There are 5 members – the mayor and 4 commissioners, each representing a district. The current mayor of Sioux Falls is Paul TenHaken, who has served since 2018.

Residents of Sioux Falls also vote for the state legislature and U.S. Congress members. On the state level, Sioux Falls makes up 5 districts of the South Dakota Senate and 9 districts of the South Dakota House of Representatives.

Education

The Sioux Falls School District serves over 24,000 students at 23 elementary schools, 6 middle schools, and 5 high schools. The district spending per student is approximately $11,700 annually.

For higher education, Sioux Falls is home to Augustana University, University of Sioux Falls, University of South Dakota, Southeast Technical College, and National American University.

Transportation

Sioux Falls Regional Airport (FSD) provides scheduled passenger flights to destinations across the country. There are also many bus routes and bicycle paths serving city residents.

Interstates 29 and 90 intersect just east of Sioux Falls, allowing convenient highway access. Public transportation is provided by Sioux Area Metro buses.