Photo of the waterfall in Sioux Falls

Sioux Falls is the largest city located in South Dakota. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 123,975. It is the county seat of Minnehaha County⁶.

Geography

Sioux Falls is located at 43°32'11" North, 96°43'54" West (43.536285, -96.731780)¹.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 145.9 km² (56.3 mi²). 145.9 km² (56.3 mi²) of it is land and 0.1 km² (0.04 mi²) of it is water. The total area is 0.04% water.

Demographics

As of the census² of 2000, there are 123,975 people, 49,731 households, and 30,783 families residing in the city. The population density is 849.9/km² (2,201.4/mi²). There are 51,680 housing units at an average density of 354.3/km² (917.7/mi²). The racial makeup of the city is 91.90% White, 1.80% African American, 2.12% Native American, 1.19% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 1.23% from other races, and 1.71% from two or more races. 2.49% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There are 49,731 households out of which 32.1% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.4% are married couples living together, 10.0% have a female householder with no husband present, and 38.1% are non-families. 29.8% of all households are made up of individuals and 8.9% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.40 and the average family size is 3.00.

In the city the population is spread out with 25.2% under the age of 18, 11.8% from 18 to 24, 32.4% from 25 to 44, 19.6% from 45 to 64, and 11.1% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 33 years. For every 100 females there are 97.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 94.4 males.

The median income for a household in the city is $41,221, and the median income for a family is $51,516. Males have a median income of $32,216 versus $24,861 for females. The per capita income for the city is $21,374. 8.4% of the population and 5.6% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 10.3% of those under the age of 18 and 7.4% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.

Transportation

Most residents of Sioux Falls get around the region by car. Interstate 90 passes across the northern edge of the city, while Interstate 29 and spur-route Interstate 229 bisect the city.

Sioux Falls Transit, the local public transit organization, operates 15 bus lines within the city.

Jefferson Lines runs long-distance bus routes to Sioux Falls, but no Amtrak passenger trains pass through South Dakota.

Several domestic airlines serve Sioux Falls Regional Airport, also known as Joe Foss Field (in honor of aviator Joe Foss), offering non-stop flight service to a number of major U.S. airport hubs, including Chicago O'Hare and Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport.

Other

During the 20th century, the city grew as it was home to several major meat processing companies, including John Morrell. Sioux Falls is home to one of U.S.A.'s largest stockyards. Livestock and agriculture related industries were the major factor behind the city's growth.

Sioux Falls is the major health care center for eastern and central South Dakota, northwest Iowa, and southwest Minnesota. The credit card operations of Citibank are located in Sioux Falls and this center is a major employer in the city.

This city also contains the Episcopal Calvary Cathedral.

Sioux Falls is home to the Sioux Empire Fair, The Great Plains Zoo & Delbridge Museum of Natural History and The Washington Pavilion of Arts and Science.

The city is home of the 114th FW, located at Joe Foss Field. The 114th houses F-16C/D fighter aircraft. This unit is well known for its support of community activities and services.

---Minor League Teams:

• SkyForce - basketball
• Storm - arena football
• Stampede - ice hockey
• Canaries - baseball (Northern League)
• Spitfire - soccer

External links

• City of Sioux Falls government website (http://www.siouxfalls.org/)
  
• Sioux Falls Transit information (http://www.siouxfalls.org/Transit/index.asp?ID=885)
• A short history of Sioux Falls (http://www.siouxfalls.org/citywide/subpage.asp?id=1216)
• Sioux Falls Argus Leader - the city's daily newspaper (http://www.argusleader.com/)
• The Great Plains Zoo & Delbridge Museum (http://www.gpzoo.org/)
  
  
• Maps and aerial photos
  • Street map from Mapquest (http://www.mapquest.com/maps/map.adp?latlongtype=decimal&latitude=43.536285&longitude=-96.73178&zoom=6)
  • Topographic map from Topozone (http://www.topozone.com/map.asp?lat=43.536285&lon=-96.73178&s=200&size=m&layer=DRG100)
  • Aerial photograph from Microsoft Terraserver (http://terraserver.microsoft.com/map.aspx?t=1&s=14&lon=-96.73178&lat=43.536285&w=750&h=500)