Vermillion, South Dakota facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Vermillion Waséoyuze
City
Vermillion, South Dakota
Downtown Vermillion
Flag
Location in Clay County and the state of South Dakota
Vermillion Location in the United States
Country	United States
State	South Dakota
County	Clay
Incorporated	1877
Government
• Type	Council–manager
Area
• Total	4.66 sq mi (12.07 km2)
• Land	4.66 sq mi (12.07 km2)
• Water	0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2)
Elevation	1,234 ft (376 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	11,695
• Density	2,509.12/sq mi (968.76/km2)
Time zone	UTC−6 (Central (CST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC−5 (CDT)
ZIP code	57069
Area code(s)	605
FIPS code	46-66700
GNIS feature ID	1267613
Website	City of Vermillion

Vermillion (which means "The Place Where Vermilion is Obtained" in the Lakota language, Waséoyuze) is a city in the southeastern part of South Dakota, United States. It is the main city and county seat of Clay County. Vermillion is the 12th largest city in South Dakota. In 2020, about 11,695 people lived there. The city sits on a high area of land called a bluff, close to the Missouri River.

For many centuries, Native American tribes lived in this area. French fur traders first visited in the late 1700s. Vermillion was started in 1859 and became an official city in 1873. Its name comes from the Lakota words wa sa wak pa'la, meaning "red stream." Vermillion is home to the University of South Dakota. This makes the city a mix of a college town and a farming area. The university is very important for the state, as it has the only law and medical schools there. Farmers in the area grow crops like corn, soybeans, and alfalfa.

History of Vermillion

Early Explorers and Settlers

The famous explorers Lewis and Clark camped near where the Vermillion River meets the Missouri River on August 24, 1804. The day before, they had hunted their first bison. The next day, they climbed Spirit Mound.

In May 1843, John James Audubon, a famous bird artist, visited the Vermillion area to see the birds. In 1873, people thought about building South Dakota's first mental hospital here. However, it was built in Yankton instead.

The Great Flood and Growth

The first town of Vermillion was built right by the Missouri River. But in the Great Flood of 1881, three-quarters of the town was washed away. After that, the town was rebuilt on higher ground.

Famous people also visited Vermillion. Presidential candidates William Jennings Bryan spoke here on September 28, 1908. The next day, William Howard Taft also visited. Later, John Philip Sousa, a famous band conductor, led his band in a concert on October 26, 1926. This concert was at the building that became Slagle Auditorium.

Geography and Climate

Where Vermillion Is Located

Vermillion covers about 4.03 square miles (12.07 square kilometers) of land. There is no water area within the city limits. The city is about 1,221 feet (372 meters) above sea level.

Vermillion's Weather

Vermillion has a climate with warm summers and cold winters. Here's a quick look at the weather:

People in Vermillion

1888 advertisement for Vermillion

How Many People Live Here?

In 2020, there were 11,695 people living in Vermillion. There were 3,895 households, which are groups of people living together. About 20.2% of these households had children under 18. Many people in Vermillion are students because of the university. The average age in the city was 23.4 years. About 41.1% of residents were between 18 and 24 years old.

Major Employers

Vermillion has several important employers that provide jobs for many people.

Fun Parks

Vermillion has nine parks, covering a total of 91 acres. Some of the main city parks are Prentis Park, Cotton Park, Barstow Park, and Lions Park. Lions Park even offers camping!

Prentis Park has a new swimming pool that opened in 2017. It has a waterslide, a diving board, a shallow play area for little kids, and a "lazy river" where you can float. There's also a snack bar. The park also has a disc golf course and a baseball field. This baseball field is used by the Vermillion High School, American Legion, University of South Dakota club, and VFW teams.

The city also has its own golf course called The Bluffs Golf Course. It has 18 holes and offers great views of the river bluffs. You can also find a bike trail along the Vermillion River. Plus, there are several smaller neighborhood parks like Bliss Park, JC Park, Ty Park, Bluffs Park, and Rotary Park.

Cool Museums

Vermillion is home to some interesting museums. The University of South Dakota has the National Music Museum (NMM). This museum is famous for having more than 15,000 musical instruments from America, Europe, and other parts of the world. It's known as a "Landmark of American Music."

The W.H. Over Museum was started in 1883 and is the oldest natural and cultural history museum in South Dakota. It has collections of fossils, plants, animals, and items that show the history of people who lived in South Dakota.

The Austin–Whittemore House was built in 1884. It is now a historic house museum and the main office for the Clay County Historical Society. This house is one of the few old buildings from the 1800s still standing in Vermillion.

Amazing Murals

You can find five cool murals in downtown Vermillion. Three of these murals were created by the community. All three community murals are painted on the Coyote Twin Theater building. The first one was painted in 2017, the second in 2019, and the third in 2020. The first mural, called "Painting the Town," was designed by Amber Hansen, a painting professor at the University of South Dakota.

In 2019 and 2020, Reyna Hernandez from the Yankton Sioux Tribe of South Dakota led the painting of two murals on the Coyote Twin Building. These two murals connect to form one big picture. Elizabeth Skye from the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe helped her. Inkpa Mani (Javier Lara-Ruiz) helped lead discussions to create images based on Native American creation stories.

Famous People from Vermillion

Many notable people have connections to Vermillion, including:

• Rachael Bella, actress
• Joseph Bottum, writer
• Kevin Brady, U.S. representative
• Shawn Colvin, singer-songwriter
• Doug Dickey, college football coach
• Mary Edelen, member of the South Dakota House of Representatives
• Carl Gunderson, former governor of South Dakota
• Jon Hoadley, Michigan state legislator
• Jeanne Ives, Illinois state representative
• Tim Johnson, U.S. senator
• John L. Jolley, U.S. representative
• Frances Kelsey, physician-scientist
• Jeff Kidder, lawman
• Ben Leber, NFL football linebacker
• Andrew E. Lee, South Dakota's third governor
• Samuel Miller, novelist and screenwriter
• Paradise Fears, alternative pop-rock band
• Byron S. Payne, Attorney General of South Dakota
• Jay C. Swisher, member of the South Dakota House of Representatives
• Todd Tiahrt, U.S. representative
• Billy Yost, musician
• Abby Whiteside, piano teacher and theorist

Media

Radio Stations

Vermillion has several radio stations that you can listen to.

Sister City

Vermillion has a special connection with Ratingen, a city in Germany. They have been "sister cities" since 1969. This means they share cultural ties and friendly relationships.

See also

In Spanish: Vermillion (Dakota del Sur) para niños