South Sioux Falls, South Dakota facts for kids

South Sioux Falls was an incorporated community located in south-central Minnehaha County, South Dakota, United States until 1955. The community was centered in present-day Sioux Falls alongside the Minnesota Ave. exit of Interstate 229, stretching from 33rd Street in the north, to 57th Street in the south 43°30′41″N 96°43′46″W (43.301224, -96.284209). Its "main street" was Minnesota Ave. (South Dakota Highway 115).

History

1955 map of proposed interstate routes, showing South Sioux Falls as an independent city

South Sioux Falls was founded in the spring of 1888, when Richard F. Pettigrew and S. L. Tate donated 4 acres (16,000 m²) of land for the Norwegian Lutheran Normal School, now Augustana College. By February 20, 1890 South Sioux Falls incorporated by a 63-0 vote. Pettigrew wanted to build a suburb of Sioux Falls to the south and west. Once nearly covering 1,800 acres (7.3 km²), South Sioux Falls once boasted a woolen mill, soap factory, an axle grease factory, a six story factory plant and Sioux Falls' first airport Soo Skyways. City hall was located at the corner of 41st Street and Covell Avenue. In the 1950 census the city was estimated to have a population of nearly 1,600, making it the third largest city in the county after Sioux Falls and Dell Rapids. On October 18, 1955 South Sioux Falls residents voted 704-227 to consolidate with Sioux Falls. Sioux Falls residents then voted on the same issue on November 15, 1955 by a vote of 2,714 in favor and 450 against.