Sioux Falls

About Sioux Falls

Sioux Falls is the largest city in South Dakota, set in the southeastern corner of the state where the Big Sioux River tumbles over a series of pink quartzite ledges right in the middle of town. The Dakota and earlier peoples knew the falls for thousands of years, and land speculators founded a settlement here in 1856, drawn by the water power. The town was abandoned during the Dakota War of 1862 and rebuilt around Fort Dakota, then grew rapidly with the railroads into a center of quarrying, meatpacking and agriculture.

Today Sioux Falls has about 210,000 residents and is one of the fastest-growing cities in the Midwest, with a strong economy in health care, banking and retail. Its downtown, built from the local pink Sioux quartzite, has been revitalized with restaurants, breweries, boutiques and the SculptureWalk, an outdoor exhibit of dozens of sculptures that changes every year. The city has a friendly small-town feel, low costs and a lively calendar of events.

Falls Park is the city's centerpiece, where the Big Sioux River cascades over the quartzite rocks, with walking paths, an observation tower and the ruins of an 1881 mill. A 20-mile bike trail loops around the city along the river, and the Great Plains Zoo, the Washington Pavilion with its science center and art galleries, the Old Courthouse Museum and the Butterfly House and Aquarium offer plenty for families. Just outside town, the Good Earth State Park protects an ancient Native American gathering place, and the Badlands and Black Hills are a scenic road trip away.