Sioux Falls, South Dakota

Top 10 Most Important Events for Sioux Falls, South Dakota

1856City Founded at the Falls: Settlers from the Western Town Company and Dakota Land Company established a community at the Big Sioux River's spectacular pink quartzite waterfalls, drawn by waterpower potential.

1862Dakota War Evacuates City: The Dakota War of 1862 forced all settlers to flee Sioux Falls. The town sat completely abandoned for three years, with buildings burned. Resettlement began in 1865.

1881Railroad Arrives: The Chicago, Milwaukee, and St. Paul Railroad reached Sioux Falls, connecting the frontier town to national markets and triggering rapid growth.

1909Morrell Meatpacking Plant Opens: John Morrell & Company established a meatpacking operation that dominated the local economy for decades, employing thousands of workers.

1981Citibank Moves Credit Card Operations: After South Dakota eliminated its usury ceiling on interest rates, Citibank relocated its credit card division to Sioux Falls, transforming it into a financial services hub. Other banks followed.

1993Great Flood of 1993: The Big Sioux River flooded extensively, causing significant damage throughout the city and prompting major flood control investments.

2003Sanford Health Dominates: Sanford Health (formerly Sioux Valley Hospital) grew into one of the largest rural health systems in the nation after a transformative $400 million donation from Denny Sanford.

2010Fastest-Growing Metro: Sioux Falls was recognized as one of the fastest-growing metropolitan areas in the United States, driven by low taxes, low unemployment, and quality of life.

2020Smithfield Foods COVID Outbreak: The Smithfield Foods pork processing plant became one of the nation's largest COVID-19 hotspots, with nearly 1,300 cases linked to the facility, drawing national scrutiny.

2023Population Boom Continues: Sioux Falls surpassed 217,000 residents, more than doubling its 1990 population and solidifying its position as the economic engine of the Dakotas.

Population Over Time

Complete Historical Timeline

1856 Government

Founded at Big Sioux River falls

1862 Disaster

Abandoned during Dakota War

1865 Government

Resettlement begins

1876 Government

County seat established

1881 Transport

Railroad arrives

1889 Government

South Dakota achieves statehood

1890 Industry

Quartzite quarrying booms

1909 Industry

Morrell meatpacking opens

1917 Government

WWI military training at Camp Roosevelt

1935 Government

WPA builds Falls Park improvements

1953 Government

Sioux Falls Air Force Base active

1972 Disaster

Devastating flood strikes city

1981 Business

Citibank credit card operations arrive

1993 Disaster

Great Flood damages city

2003 Business

Sanford Health transforms healthcare

2010 Government

Named fastest-growing metro

2020 Disaster

Smithfield COVID outbreak

2023 Government

Population surpasses 217,000

Did You Know?

Sioux Falls is essentially the credit card capital of America — South Dakota's elimination of usury caps in 1981 is why your Citibank, Wells Fargo, or Capital One card might say 'Sioux Falls, SD' in the fine print.

The city was completely abandoned from 1862 to 1865 during the Dakota War — one of the only American cities to be entirely evacuated and later resettled.

Falls Park features 7,400 tons of water cascading over 100-foot-wide pink Sioux quartzite rock formations every minute during peak flow.

Top 10 Most Important Events for Sioux Falls, South Dakota

Population Over Time

Latest News in Sioux Falls

Complete Historical Timeline

Did You Know?