Pierre, South Dakota Explained

Pierre
Flag Size:90
Seal Size:80
Image Blank Emblem:Pierre, SD Logo.png
Blank Emblem Type:Logo
Blank Emblem Size:120
Motto:"On The River-On The Move"
Mapsize:250px
Pushpin Map:South Dakota#USA
Pushpin Relief:yes
Pushpin Label:Pierre
Coordinates:44.3747°N -100.3206°W
Subdivision Type:Country
Subdivision Name:United States
Established Title:Founded
Established Date:1880
Established Title3:Incorporated
Established Date3:1883[1]
Leader Name:Steve Harding
Unit Pref:Imperial
Area Footnotes:[2]
Area Total Km2:33.80
Area Total Sq Mi:13.05
Area Land Km2:33.74
Area Land Sq Mi:13.03
Area Water Km2:0.05
Area Water Sq Mi:0.02
Area Water Percent:0.08
Elevation Ft:1700
Population Total:14,091
Population Density Km2:417.63
Population Density Sq Mi:1081.68
Utc Offset:-6
Timezone Dst:Central
Utc Offset Dst:-5
Blank Info:46-49600
Blank1 Name:GNIS feature ID
Blank1 Info:1267533
Postal Code:57501

Pierre is the capital city of the U.S. state of South Dakota and the county seat of Hughes County.[3] The population was 14,091 at the 2020 census, making it the 2nd least populous US state capital after Montpelier, Vermont. It is South Dakota's 9th most populous city. Pierre is the principal city of the Pierre Micropolitan Statistical Area, which includes all of Hughes and Stanley counties.

Founded in 1880 on the Missouri River, the city was selected to be the state capital when South Dakota was created in 1889. Prior to achieving statehood, both Dakotas were part of Dakota Territory, with the territorial capital at Bismarck in what would become North Dakota.

History

Pierre was founded in 1880 on the east bank of the Missouri River opposite Fort Pierre, a former trading post that developed as a community. It was designated as the state capital when South Dakota gained statehood on November 2, 1889.

Huron challenged the city to be selected as the capital, but Pierre was selected for its geographic centrality in the state. Fort Pierre had developed earlier, with a permanent settlement since around a fur trading post. Fort Pierre Chouteau, preceding the city, was named after Pierre Chouteau, Jr., an American fur trader from St. Louis, Missouri, who was of colonial French origin.

Pierre's development was also influenced by construction of the Rapid City, Pierre and Eastern Railroad, which runs east–west through the city. It increased access to markets for regional products and improved transportation for passengers. The railroad crosses the Missouri River on the Chicago and North Western Railroad Bridge.

The capital city became relatively isolated in the post-World War II era of federally subsidized highway construction, as travelers and freight companies began to use automobiles and trucking. It is one of four state capitals not served by the Interstate Highway System.[4]

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has an area of 13.07sqmi, of which 13.06sqmi is land and 0.01sqmi is water.[5]

Pierre is sited on rough river bluffs above the east bank of the Missouri River, overlooking its expanse. It is a few miles away from Lake Oahe, one of the world's largest man-made lakes. Developed for flood control and irrigation, the lake has become a popular fishing destination.

Climate

Pierre has a relatively dry, four-season, humid continental climate (Köppen: Dfa),[6] with long, dry, cold winters, hot summers, and brief spring and autumnal transitions; like much of the southern half of the state, it lies in USDA Plant Hardiness zone 5.[7] According to weather maps and their data, Pierre can be considered a cool semi-arid climate (Köppen: BSk) aided by its precipitation near the threshold[8] that reaches even northeast of the city in South Dakota. As such, it is the only capital of the Midwest states with a non-humid climate.[9] [10] The monthly daily average temperature ranges from 19.1F in January to 74.9F, though the diurnal temperature variation is significantly greater during summer than in winter. Snow primarily falls in light amounts, with the snowiest months being February and March, while the average seasonal total is 37.2inches. In addition, there are an average 20.9 nights per year with lows below 0F, and cold conditions are often intensified by the Great Plains' high winds. Summers often see spikes in temperature, with 6.6 days of highs above 100F and 37–38 days with highs above 90F.

On July 23, 1973, an F3 tornado struck Pierre and caused 10 injuries.[11] It was the strongest tornado ever recorded in Hughes County.[12]

The beginnings of May and October see the last and first freezing nights, respectively, of the cooler season. Precipitation is much lighter in the winter than in late spring and summer, and totals about 20inches annually. Extremes have ranged from -35F on February 9, 1994, to 117F on July 15, 2006.

Demographics

2010 census

As of the census[13] of 2010, there were 13,646 people, 5,778 households, and 3,463 families living in the city. The population density was 1044.9PD/sqmi. There were 6,159 housing units at an average density of 471.6/sqmi. The racial makeup of the city was 85.1% White, 0.5% African American, 10.9% Native American, 0.6% Asian, 0.5% from other races, and 2.4% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 1.9% of the population.

There were 5,778 households, of which 29.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.7% were married couples living together, 10.4% had a female householder with no husband present, 3.8% had a male householder with no wife present, and 40.1% were non-families. 35.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.23 and the average family size was 2.87.

The median age in the city was 39.3 years. 22.9% of residents were under the age of 18; 7.5% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 26.7% were from 25 to 44; 28.9% were from 45 to 64; and 13.9% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 47.8% male and 52.2% female.

2000 census

As of the census of 2000, there were 13,876 people, 5,567 households, and 3,574 families living in the city. The population density was 1065.8/mi2. There were 5,949 housing units at an average density of 457/mi2. The racial makeup of the city was 88.91% White, 0.20% African American, 8.56% Native American, 0.46% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.29% from other races, and 1.56% from two or more races. Hispanics or Latinos of any race were 1.25% of the population.

There were 5,567 households, out of which 32.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.6% were married couples living together, 9.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.8% were non-families. 31.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.35, and the average family size was 2.96.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 27.2% under the age of 18, 6.5% from 18 to 24, 28.6% from 25 to 44, 23.6% from 45 to 64, and 14.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 90.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.4 males.

As of 2000 the median income for a household in the city was $42,962, and the median income for a family was $52,144. Males had a median income of $32,969 versus $22,865 for females. The per capita income for the city was $20,462. About 5.5% of families and 7.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.9% of those under age 18 and 9.2% of those age 65 or over.

Education

The Pierre School District, the school district covering the city,[14] oversees three elementary schools, a middle school and a high school, T. F. Riggs High School. St. Joseph, is a private Catholic elementary school. It is administered by the local parish and the Diocese of Sioux Falls. Other schools include For His Glory and the Pierre Indian Learning Center (a tribal school affiliated with the Bureau of Indian Education).

Media

Television

Television+ align=bottom Channel
(Digital)
Callsign
7.1K14IO-D
11.1KPLO-LD
11.2KPLO-LD
13.1KPRY
13.2KPRY
13.3KPRY
34.1K34GM-D
46.1K27HJ-D
46.2K27HJ-D

AM radio

AM radio stations
FrequencyCall sign
1060 AMKGFX
1240 AMKCCR

FM radio

FM radio stations
FrequencyCall sign
89.1 FMKVFL
89.5 FMK208FM
90.3 FMKSLP
91.7 FMKTSD
92.7 FMKGFX-FM
94.5 FMKPLO-FM
95.3 FMKLXS
96.3 FMK242CH
98.9 FMK255DE
100.1 FMKJBI
100.5 FMK263AW
104.5 FMKCCR-FM
105.1 FMKPGN-LP
107.1 FMK296FI

Newspaper

The Capital Journal is the local newspaper and has been in circulation since 1881. OaheTV is the local public/education/government cable channel serving Pierre, Fort Pierre on Midcontinent Communications Cable.

Infrastructure

Transportation

Public transit is provided by River Cities Public Transit.

Pierre Regional Airport is served by one commercial airline.

Although in the center of the state, Pierre is one of only four state capitals not served by an Interstate highway (along with Dover, Delaware, Jefferson City, Missouri, and Juneau, Alaska). It is the only one that is not served by any expressways.[15] The nearest Interstate highway is Interstate 90, about south of Pierre via the four-lane U.S. Highway 83.[16]

The Rapid City, Pierre and Eastern Railroad runs east–west through the city. The railroad crosses the Missouri River on the Chicago and North Western Railroad Bridge.

Notable people

In popular culture

In 2015, in honor of the 80th anniversary of the "Monopoly" board game, Hasbro held an online vote to determine which cities should be included in an updated version of the "Here and Now: The US Edition" of the game. The top "Boardwalk" spot went to an unexpected contender: Pierre. It received the most votes, beating New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, and Boston.[18] [19] The outcome may have been influenced by the image that accompanied the name of the city in the balloting: the well-known Mount Rushmore, which is 150 miles west of Pierre, in Keystone and the Black Hills section of the state.[20]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Encyclopedia: William D. Halsey. Collier's Encyclopedia. Pierre. 1976. Macmillan Educational Corporation. 19. New York. 42–43.
  2. Web site: ArcGIS REST Services Directory. United States Census Bureau. October 15, 2022.
  3. Web site: Find a County. June 7, 2011. National Association of Counties. https://web.archive.org/web/20110531210815/http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx. May 31, 2011. live.
  4. Web site: Part VII - Miscellaneous Interstate Facts - Engineering Data - Interstate System - Highway History - Federal Highway Administration . 2022-03-05 . Federal Highway Administration (FHWA).
  5. Web site: US Gazetteer files 2010 . . June 21, 2012 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20120125061959/http://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/files/Gaz_places_national.txt . January 25, 2012.
  6. Peel, M.C., Finlayson, B.L., and McMahon, T.A.: Updated American map of the Köppen-Geiger climate classification. Earth Syst. Sci., 11, 1633–1644, 2007.
  7. Web site: What is my arborday.org Hardiness Zone? . https://archive.today/20130630014614/http://www.arborday.org/treeinfo/ZoneInfo.cfm?ZipCode=57501&submit=Look+it+up! . dead . June 30, 2013 . 9 April 2016 .
  8. Web site: Data . US Climate . Climate Pierre - South Dakota and Weather averages Pierre - Weather history january 2018 . dead . www.usclimatedata.com . October 16, 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20181017001925/https://www.usclimatedata.com/climate/pierre/south-dakota/united-states/ussd0269/2018/1 . October 17, 2018.
  9. Web site: Interactive United States Koppen-Geiger Climate Classification Map. www.plantmaps.com. October 16, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20181011214712/https://www.plantmaps.com/koppen-climate-classification-map-united-states.php. October 11, 2018. live.
  10. Web site: Updated Köppen-Geiger climate map of the world. people.eng.unimelb.edu.au. October 16, 2018.
  11. Web site: Tornado History Project: 19730723.46.22 . dead . April 3, 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180404073714/http://www.tornadohistoryproject.com/tornado/19730723.46.22 . April 4, 2018.
  12. Web site: Tornado History Project: Hughes County, South Dakota . dead . April 3, 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180404073629/http://www.tornadohistoryproject.com/tornado/South-Dakota/Hughes/map . April 4, 2018.
  13. Web site: U.S. Census website. United States Census Bureau. June 21, 2012.
  14. Web site: 2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Hughes County, SD. U.S. Census Bureau. 2024-03-13. - Text list
  15. Web site: The Dwight D. Eisenhower System of Interstate and Defense Highways - Part VII - Miscellaneous Interstate Facts. Federal Highway Administration. June 3, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180716025219/https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/highwayhistory/data/page07.cfm. July 16, 2018. dead.
  16. John E. Miller, Looking for History on Highway 14 (Pierre: South Dakota State Historical Society Press,2001)
  17. News: . June 1, 1949 . Byron S. Payne Funeral Friday . The Daily Plainsman . Huron, SD . 6 . Newspapers.com.
  18. News: Burbach . Kevin . Pierre Gets Top Spot on New Monopoly Game . . March 19, 2015 . March 20, 2015.
  19. Web site: Monopoly . dead . BuzzFeed . April 9, 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160320130845/http://www.buzzfeed.com/votemonopoly . March 20, 2016 . dmy-all.
  20. Web site: Distance between Pierre, SD and Keystone, SD . dead . www.distance-cities.com . June 9, 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160611021146/http://www.distance-cities.com/distance-pierre-sd-to-keystone-sd . June 11, 2016.