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Vermillion

Waséoyuze
Vermillion, South Dakota
Downtown Vermillion
Downtown Vermillion
Location in Clay County and the state of South Dakota
Location in Clay County and the state of South Dakota
Vermillion is located in the United States
Vermillion
Vermillion
Location in the United States
Country United States
State South Dakota
County Clay
Incorporated 1877
Government
 • Type Council–manager
Area
 • Total 4.57 sq mi (11.83 km2)
 • Land 4.57 sq mi (11.83 km2)
 • Water 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2)
Elevation
1,224 ft (373 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total 11,695
 • Density 2,392.38/sq mi (923.67/km2)
Time zone UTC−6 (Central (CST))
 • Summer (DST) UTC−5 (CDT)
ZIP code
57069
Area code(s) 605 Exchanges: 624,638,677
FIPS code 46-66700
GNIS feature ID 1258745
Website City of Vermillion

Vermillion (Lakota: [Waséoyuze] Error: {{Lang}}: text has italic markup (help); "The Place Where Vermilion is Obtained") is a city in and the county seat of Clay County. It is in the southeastern corner of South Dakota, United States, and is the state's 12th-largest city. According to the 2020 Census, the population was 11,695. The city lies atop a bluff near the Missouri River.

The area has been home to Native American tribes for centuries. French fur traders first visited in the late 18th century. Vermillion was founded in 1859 and incorporated in 1873. The name refers to the Lakota name: wa sa wak pa'la (red stream). Home to the University of South Dakota, Vermillion has a mixed academic and rural character: the university is a major academic institution for the state, with its only law and medical schools and its only AACSB-accredited business school. Major farm products include corn, soybeans, and alfalfa.

History

Lewis and Clark camped at the mouth of the Vermillion River near the present-day town on August 24, 1804. The previous day, they had killed their first bison; and the following day, they climbed Spirit Mound, according to Clark's journal.

In May 1843, John James Audubon visited the Vermillion ravine to view the bird life. The town was considered for the location of South Dakota's first mental institution (now the Human Services Center) in 1873, although the hospital was eventually located in nearby Yankton.

The original town was entirely located below the bluffs on the banks of the Missouri River, and three-quarters of the town was washed away in the Great Flood of 1881.

Presidential candidates William Jennings Bryan visited and spoke in Vermillion on September 28, 1908, and William Howard Taft on the next day.

John Philip Sousa conducted the Sousa Band on October 26, 1926, at the facility that became known as Slagle Auditorium in 1929.

Donald Opperman's car was parked illegally on the streets on December 10, 1973, leading to the U.S. Supreme Court case South Dakota v. Opperman, decided March 29, 1976.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 4.03 square miles (10.44 km2), all land.

The elevation of the city is 1,221 feet (372 m).

Climate

Climate data for Vermillion, SD
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °F (°C) 71
(22)
74
(23)
90
(32)
97
(36)
104
(40)
108
(42)
108
(42)
106
(41)
103
(39)
98
(37)
83
(28)
69
(21)
108
(42)
Average high °F (°C) 31
(−1)
37
(3)
48
(9)
63
(17)
73
(23)
82
(28)
86
(30)
84
(29)
78
(26)
65
(18)
47
(8)
33
(1)
61
(16)
Daily mean °F (°C) 21
(−6)
26
(−3)
37
(3)
50
(10)
61
(16)
71
(22)
75
(24)
73
(23)
65
(18)
52
(11)
37
(3)
23
(−5)
49
(10)
Average low °F (°C) 11
(−12)
15
(−9)
26
(−3)
37
(3)
49
(9)
59
(15)
64
(18)
62
(17)
52
(11)
39
(4)
26
(−3)
13
(−11)
38
(3)
Record low °F (°C) −30
(−34)
−33
(−36)
−22
(−30)
7
(−14)
20
(−7)
36
(2)
37
(3)
36
(2)
23
(−5)
10
(−12)
−24
(−31)
−30
(−34)
−33
(−36)

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop.
1880 714
1890 1,496 109.5%
1900 2,188 46.3%
1910 2,187 0.0%
1920 2,590 18.4%
1930 2,850 10.0%
1940 3,324 16.6%
1950 5,337 60.6%
1960 6,102 14.3%
1970 9,128 49.6%
1980 10,136 11.0%
1990 10,034 −1.0%
2000 9,765 −2.7%
2010 10,571 8.3%
2020 11,695 10.6%
U.S. Decennial Census
Minnesota, North and South Dakota and Montana gazetteer and business directory (1888) (14767214961)
1888 advertisement

2020 census

As of the census of 2020, there were 11,695 people, 3,895 households, and 1,771 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,623.1 inhabitants per square mile (1,012.8/km2). There were 4,130 housing units at an average density of 1,003.2 per square mile (387.3/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 86.6% White, 2.3% African American, 3.8% Native American, 3.7% Asian, 3.3% from other races, and 2.3% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.4% of the population.

There were 3,895 households, of which 20.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 32.8% were married couples living together, 8.4% had a female householder with no husband present, 3.2% had a male householder with no wife present, and 55.6% were non-families. 35.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.21 and the average family size was 2.90.

The median age in the city was 23.4 years. 15.3% of residents were under the age of 18; 41.1% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 20.7% were from 25 to 44; 14.4% were from 45 to 64; and 8.4% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 47.8% male and 52.2% female.

Parks

Prentis Park includes two swimming pools: one kids pool, and one full size with a waterslide and diving boards. There is also a variety of playground equipment and wide open green space. Additionally the park features a snack bar (next to the pool area), several basketball hoops, and a disc golf course. It also contains a baseball diamond which is the home of the Vermillion Red Sox, of the South Dakota Amateur Baseball Association. Along with Prentis Park, the city maintains and owns Lion's Park, Barstow Park, and Cotton Park. The city also boasts a bike trail along the quiet Vermillion River. The Bluffs Golf Course is also owned and operated by the City of Vermillion. The Bluffs is an 18-hole championship golf course that overlooks the bluffs in Vermillion.

Museums

The University of South Dakota's National Music Museum (NMM) is accredited by the American Alliance of Museums in Washington, D.C., and is recognized as "A Landmark of American Music" by the National Music Council. It includes more than 15,000 American, European, and non-Western instruments.

Sister city

Ratingen, Germany is the sister city of Vermillion.


Notable people

  • Rachael Bella, actress
  • Joseph Bottum, writer
  • Kevin Brady, U.S. representative
  • Shawn Colvin, singer-songwriter
  • Doug Dickey, college football coach
  • Carl Gunderson, former governor of South Dakota
  • Jon Hoadley, Michigan state legislator
  • Chelsea Houska, television personality (Teen Mom 2)
  • Jeanne Ives, Illinois state representative
  • Frances Kelsey, physician-scientist
  • Tim Johnson, U.S. senator
  • John L. Jolley, U.S. representative
  • Jeff Kidder, lawman
  • Ben Leber, NFL football linebacker
  • Andrew E. Lee, South Dakota's third governor
  • Paradise Fears, alternative pop-rock band
  • Byron S. Payne, Attorney General of South Dakota
  • Billy Yost, musician
  • Todd Tiahrt, U.S. representative
  • Abby Whiteside, piano teacher and theorist

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Vermillion (Dakota del Sur) para niños

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