Timeline of Sioux Falls, South Dakota facts for kids

The following is a timeline of the history of the city of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, USA.

19th century

• 1856 - Western Town Company develops townsite.
• 1857 - Dakota Land Company develops townsite.
• 1859 - Democrat newspaper begins publication.
• 1867 - Permanent settlement established.
• 1868 - Sioux Falls becomes capital of Minnehaha County, Dakota Territory.
• 1871 - Cataract House hotel in business.
• 1872
  • Sioux Falls Pantagraph newspaper begins publication.
  • Calvary Church built.
• 1873
  • Sioux Falls Independent newspaper begins publication.
  • Population: 593.
• 1874 - Bank for Savings opens.
• 1877
  • Village incorporated.
  • March: C.K. Howard elected president of village board of trustees.
• 1878 - Sioux Falls Times newspaper begins publication.
• 1879
  • Irving School, Free Methodist Church, and Congregational Church built.
  • Ladies Club library organized.
• 1880 - Dakota Territorial School for Deaf Mutes established.
• 1881
  • Sioux Falls Argus newspaper begins publication.
  • Penitentiary established.
  • Queen Bee Mill in business.
• 1882
  • Telephone begins operating.
  • First Baptist Church built.
• 1883
  • City chartered.
  • April 3: Jacob Schaetzel elected mayor.
  • Sioux Falls College founded.
  • Sioux Falls Daily Press newspaper begins publication.
• 1884 - Swedish Baptist Church built.
• 1885 - Norberg Paints founded, still operating as the oldest family owned business in the state of South Dakota.
• 1885 - Dakota Deutsche Zeitung German-language newspaper begins publication.
• 1886 - Sioux Falls Bank established.
• 1887
  • Streetcars begin operating.
  • Dakota Bell begins publication.
• 1889
  • Lutheran Normal School opens.
  • German Congregational Emanuel Church and Episcopal Calvary Cathedral built.
  • Roman Catholic Diocese of Sioux Falls established.
• 1890
  • Minnehaha County Courthouse built.
  • Porter P. Peck becomes mayor.
  • Population: 10,177.
• 1891
  • Jordan Methodist Church dedicated.
  • Syd Dakota Ekko Norwegian-language newspaper relocates to Sioux Falls.
• 1894 - Fremad Norwegian/English-language newspaper begins publication.
• 1895 - Federal Building and United States Courthouse (Sioux Falls, South Dakota) constructed.
• 1897 - Scandinavian Methodist Episcopal Church organized.
• 1900
  • Manchester Biscuit Company in business.
  • Western Surety Company created by Joe Kirby.
  • Cataract Hotel Burns down, leading to Sioux Falls Volunteer Fire Dept. becoming a paid department.
  • Population: 10,266.

20th century

• 1903 - Carnegie Free Public Library opens.
• 1905 - Minnehaha Country Club founded.
• 1907 - First Congregational Church (Sioux Falls, South Dakota) built.
• 1908 - South Dakota Central Railway built.
• 1909 - Morrell Packing Plant in business.
• 1910 - Population: 14,094.
• 1911 - Orpheum Theatre built.
• 1912
  • Eighth Street Bridge (Sioux Falls, South Dakota) and Central Fire Station constructed.
  • McKennan Hospital established.
• 1916 Eastside Fire Station constructed.
• 1917 - Coliseum theatre built.
• 1918
  • Augustana College and Normal School established.
  • St. Joseph Cathedral (Sioux Falls, South Dakota) completed.
• 1922 - August 17: Three prisoners escape from State Penitentiary.
• 1924
  • Masonic Library founded.
  • Josephine Martin Glidden Memorial Chapel built.
• 1925 - State Theatre built.
• 1928 - Pettigrew Museum established.
• 1930 - Sioux Valley Hospital built.
• 1936 - March: Two prisoners escape from State Penitentiary.
• 1937 - City Hall built.
• 1942 - Sioux Falls Army Air Base established.
• 1949 - North American Baptist Seminary relocates to Sioux Falls.
• 1963 - Great Bear Ski Area established.
• 1966 - Pathfinder Nuclear Generating Station commissioned in nearby Brandon Township.
• 1970 - Sioux Falls Regional Airport terminal built.
• 1974 - Siouxland Heritage Museums established.
• 1975 - Empire Mall in business.
• 1981 - City of Sioux Falls Township Annexation Study was completed in November 1981
• 1983 - December 20: Airplane accident.
• 1986 - Qwest Tower (Sioux Falls) built.
• 1988 - Sioux Falls Jazz and Blues Festival begins.
• 1990 - Sister city relationship established with Potsdam, Germany.
• 1993 - Sister city relationship established with Strabane, Northern Ireland.
• 1995 - Central Baptist Church built.
• 1998 - City website online (approximate date).
• 1999 - Washington Pavilion of Arts and Science opens.
• 2000 - Population: 123,975.

21st century

• 2002 - Dave Munson becomes mayor.
• 2005 - Zip Feed Tower demolished.
• 2008 - Sister city relationship established with Newry and Mourne, Northern Ireland.
• 2010
  • Mike Huether becomes mayor.
  • Population: 153,888.
• 2011 - October 15: Occupy protest.