Timeline of Sioux Falls, South Dakota facts for kids

Sioux Falls, South Dakota, has a rich and exciting history! This timeline will take you on a journey through the years, showing how a small settlement grew into the bustling city it is today. You'll learn about important buildings, new technologies, and how the population changed over time.

The 1800s: Early Days and Growth

• 1856 – The Western Town Company started planning the city.
• 1857 – The Dakota Land Company also began developing the area.
• 1859 – The first newspaper, the Democrat, started printing.
• 1867 – People began to settle permanently in Sioux Falls.
• 1868 – Sioux Falls became the main city for Minnehaha County in the Dakota Territory.
• 1871 – The Cataract House hotel opened its doors.
• 1872
  • Another newspaper, the Sioux Falls Pantagraph, began publication.
  • Calvary Church was built.
• 1873
  • The Sioux Falls Independent newspaper started.
  • The population reached 593 people.
• 1874 – The Bank for Savings opened.
• 1877
  • Sioux Falls officially became an organized village.
  • March: C.K. Howard was chosen to lead the village board.
• 1878 – The Sioux Falls Times newspaper started.
• 1879
  • Irving School, Free Methodist Church, and Congregational Church were built.
  • A library was started by the Ladies Club.
• 1880 – The Dakota Territorial School for Deaf Mutes was established to help students with hearing impairments.
• 1881
  • The Sioux Falls Argus newspaper began.
  • A state prison was built.
  • The Queen Bee Mill started grinding grain.
• 1882
  • Telephone service began in the city.
  • The First Baptist Church was built.
• 1883
  • Sioux Falls officially became a chartered city.
  • April 3: Jacob Schaetzel was elected as the first mayor.
  • Sioux Falls College was founded.
  • The Sioux Falls Daily Press newspaper began.
• 1884 – The Swedish Baptist Church was built.
• 1885 – Norberg Paints was founded and is still the oldest family-owned business in South Dakota.
• 1885 – A German-language newspaper, Dakota Deutsche Zeitung, started.
• 1886 – The Sioux Falls Bank was established.
• 1887
  • Streetcars began operating, making it easier to travel around the city.
  • The Dakota Bell newspaper started.
• 1889
  • The Lutheran Normal School opened.
  • The German Congregational Emanuel Church and Episcopal Calvary Cathedral were built.
  • The Roman Catholic Diocese of Sioux Falls was established.
• 1890
  • The Minnehaha County Courthouse was built.
  • Porter P. Peck became mayor.
  • The population grew to 10,177 people.
• 1891
  • Jordan Methodist Church was dedicated.
  • The Norwegian-language newspaper Syd Dakota Ekko moved to Sioux Falls.
• 1894 – The Fremad newspaper, printed in Norwegian and English, began.
• 1895 – The Federal Building and United States Courthouse (Sioux Falls, South Dakota) was constructed.
• 1897 – The Scandinavian Methodist Episcopal Church was organized.
• 1900
  • The Manchester Biscuit Company started making delicious treats.
  • The Western Surety Company was created by Joe Kirby.
  • The Cataract Hotel burned down, leading to the Sioux Falls Volunteer Fire Department becoming a paid department.
  • The population was 10,266.

The 1900s: A Century of Change

• 1903 – The Carnegie Free Public Library opened, offering books to everyone.
• 1905 – The Minnehaha Country Club was founded.
• 1907 – The First Congregational Church (Sioux Falls, South Dakota) was built.
• 1908 – The South Dakota Central Railway was constructed.
• 1909 – The Morrell Packing Plant opened, becoming a major employer.
• 1910 – The population reached 14,094.
• 1911 – The Orpheum Theatre was built, a place for entertainment.
• 1912
  • The Eighth Street Bridge (Sioux Falls, South Dakota) and Central Fire Station were built.
  • McKennan Hospital was established to provide healthcare.
• 1916 – The Eastside Fire Station was constructed.
• 1917 – The Coliseum theatre was built.
• 1918
  • Augustana College and Normal School was established.
  • St. Joseph Cathedral (Sioux Falls, South Dakota) was completed.
• 1924
  • The Masonic Library was founded.
  • The Josephine Martin Glidden Memorial Chapel was built.
• 1925 – The State Theatre was built.
• 1928 – The Pettigrew Museum was established, showcasing history and culture.
• 1930 – Sioux Valley Hospital was built.
• 1937 – The City Hall was built.
• 1942 – The Sioux Falls Army Air Base was established, important during World War II.
• 1949 – The North American Baptist Seminary moved to Sioux Falls.
• 1963 – The Great Bear Ski Area was established, offering winter fun.
• 1966 – The Pathfinder Nuclear Generating Station began operating nearby.
• 1970 – The Sioux Falls Regional Airport terminal was built, improving air travel.
• 1974 – The Siouxland Heritage Museums were established.
• 1975 – The Empire Mall opened, becoming a popular shopping destination.
• 1983 – December 20: An airplane accident occurred.
• 1986 – The Qwest Tower (Sioux Falls) was built.
• 1988 – The Sioux Falls Jazz and Blues Festival began, bringing music to the city.
• 1990 – Sioux Falls formed a sister city relationship with Potsdam, Germany, to promote cultural exchange.
• 1993 – A sister city relationship was established with Strabane, Northern Ireland.
• 1995 – The Central Baptist Church was built.
• 1999 – The Washington Pavilion of Arts and Science opened, offering arts, science, and entertainment.
• 2000 – The population reached 123,975.

The 2000s: Into the New Millennium

• 2002 – Dave Munson became mayor.
• 2005 – The Zip Feed Tower, a tall landmark, was taken down.
• 2008 – A sister city relationship was established with Newry and Mourne, Northern Ireland.
• 2010
  • Mike Huether became mayor.
  • The population grew to 153,888.
• 2011 – October 15: A local Occupy protest took place.