Pierre ( )[6] (Lakota: čhúŋkaške;[7] "fort") is the capital of the state of South Dakota and the county seat of Hughes County.[8] The population was 13,646 at the 2010 census, making it the second least populous state capital after Montpelier, Vermont. Founded in 1880 on the Missouri River opposite Fort Pierre, Pierre has been the capital since South Dakota gained statehood on November 2, 1889, having been chosen for its location in the geographic center of the state. Fort Pierre itself was named after Pierre Chouteau, Jr., an American fur trader of French origin.
Pierre is the principal city of the Pierre Micropolitan Statistical Area, which includes all of Hughes and Stanley counties.
Contents
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Geography 1
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Demographics 2
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2010 census 2.1
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2000 census 2.2
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Transportation 3
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Media 4
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AM Radio 4.1
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FM Radio 4.2
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Notable people 5
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Tourism 6
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Photo Gallery 7
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References 8
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External links 9
Geography
Pierre is located at (44.367966, −100.336378).[9]
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 13.07 square miles (33.85 km2), of which, 13.06 square miles (33.83 km2) is land and 0.01 square miles (0.03 km2) is water.[2]
Pierre lies on rough river bluffs overlooking the Missouri River. It is a few miles away from Lake Oahe, one of the largest man made lakes in the world and a very popular fishing destination.
Pierre has a relatively dry, four-season, humid continental climate (Köppen Dfa),[10] with long, dry, cold winters, hot summers, and brief spring and autumnal transitions; as with much of the southern half of the state, it lies in USDA Plant Hardiness Zone 5.[11] The monthly daily average temperature ranges from 19.9 °F (−6.7 °C) in January to 75.4 °F (24.1 °C), though the diurnal temperature variation is significantly greater during summer than in winter. Snow primarily falls in light amounts, with the snowiest months being February and March, while the average seasonal total is 32 inches (81 cm). In addition, there are 20 nights per year with subzero (≤ −18 °C) lows,[12] and cold conditions are often intensified by the high winds of the Great Plains. Summers often see spikes in temperature, with 6.4 days of 100 °F (38 °C)+ highs and 36−37 days of 90 °F (32 °C)+ highs.[12]
The beginning of both May and October represent the last and first, respectively, freezing nights of the cooler season.[12] Precipitation is much lighter in the winter months than it is in late spring and summer, and totals about 20 inches (508 mm) annually. Extremes have ranged from −35 °F (−37 °C) on February 9, 1994 to 117 °F (47 °C) on July 15, 2006.
|
Climate data for Pierre, South Dakota (Pierre Regional Airport), 1981−2010 normals
|
|
Month
|
Jan
|
Feb
|
Mar
|
Apr
|
May
|
Jun
|
Jul
|
Aug
|
Sep
|
Oct
|
Nov
|
Dec
|
Year
|
|
Record high °F (°C)
|
68
(20)
|
75
(24)
|
88
(31)
|
98
(37)
|
105
(41)
|
112
(44)
|
117
(47)
|
114
(46)
|
108
(42)
|
98
(37)
|
87
(31)
|
77
(25)
|
117
(47)
|
|
Average high °F (°C)
|
30.0
(−1.1)
|
34.9
(1.6)
|
45.4
(7.4)
|
59.7
(15.4)
|
70.2
(21.2)
|
80.0
(26.7)
|
88.8
(31.6)
|
87.3
(30.7)
|
76.5
(24.7)
|
61.0
(16.1)
|
44.1
(6.7)
|
31.3
(−0.4)
|
59.1
(15.1)
|
|
Average low °F (°C)
|
9.8
(−12.3)
|
13.8
(−10.1)
|
23.5
(−4.7)
|
34.2
(1.2)
|
45.7
(7.6)
|
55.4
(13)
|
61.9
(16.6)
|
60.1
(15.6)
|
49.2
(9.6)
|
36.4
(2.4)
|
23.3
(−4.8)
|
12.1
(−11.1)
|
35.5
(1.9)
|
|
Record low °F (°C)
|
−33
(−36)
|
−35
(−37)
|
−19
(−28)
|
1
(−17)
|
21
(−6)
|
34
(1)
|
42
(6)
|
39
(4)
|
21
(−6)
|
4
(−16)
|
−18
(−28)
|
−31
(−35)
|
−35
(−37)
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|
Precipitation inches (mm)
|
.42
(10.7)
|
.59
(15)
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1.23
(31.2)
|
1.81
(46)
|
3.15
(80)
|
3.57
(90.7)
|
2.61
(66.3)
|
1.80
(45.7)
|
1.87
(47.5)
|
1.65
(41.9)
|
.76
(19.3)
|
.55
(14)
|
20.01
(508.3)
|
|
Snowfall inches (cm)
|
5.4
(13.7)
|
6.0
(15.2)
|
5.8
(14.7)
|
3.5
(8.9)
|
0
(0)
|
0
(0)
|
0
(0)
|
0
(0)
|
0
(0)
|
.9
(2.3)
|
4.8
(12.2)
|
4.8
(12.2)
|
31.3
(79.5)
|
|
Avg. precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in)
|
5.7
|
4.7
|
6.3
|
8.2
|
10.2
|
10.7
|
9.2
|
7.4
|
6.8
|
6.8
|
5.9
|
5.8
|
87.7
|
|
Avg. snowy days (≥ 0.1 in)
|
5.1
|
3.8
|
3.5
|
1.9
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
.6
|
3.1
|
4.3
|
22.3
|
|
Source: NOAA (extremes 1933–present)[12][13]
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Demographics
2010 census
As of the census[3] of 2010, there were 13,646 people, 5,778 households, and 3,463 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,044.9 inhabitants per square mile (403.4/km2). There were 6,159 housing units at an average density of 471.6 per square mile (182.1/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 85.1% White, 0.5% African American, 10.9% Native American, 0.6% Asian, 0.5% from other races, and 2.4% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.9% of the population.
There were 5,778 households of which 29.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.7% were married couples living together, 10.4% had a female householder with no husband present, 3.8% had a male householder with no wife present, and 40.1% were non-families. 35.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 11% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.23 and the average family size was 2.87.
The median age in the city was 39.3 years. 22.9% of residents were under the age of 18; 7.5% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 26.7% were from 25 to 44; 28.9% were from 45 to 64; and 13.9% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 47.8% male and 52.2% female.
2000 census
Pierre, South Dakota on the Missouri River
As of the census of 2000, there were 13,876 people, 5,567 households, and 3,574 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,065.8 people per square mile (411.5/km²). There were 5,949 housing units at an average density of 457.0 per square mile (176.4/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 88.91% White, 0.20% African American, 8.56% Native American, 0.46% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.29% from other races, and 1.56% from two or more races. Hispanics or Latinos of any race were 1.25% of the population.
There were 5,567 households, out of which 32.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.6% were married couples living together, 9.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.8% were non-families. 31.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.35, and the average family size was 2.96.
In the city the population was spread out, with 27.2% under the age of 18, 6.5% from 18 to 24, 28.6% from 25 to 44, 23.6% from 45 to 64, and 14.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 90.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.4 males.
As of 2000 the median income for a household in the city was $42,962, and the median income for a family was $52,144. Males had a median income of $32,969 versus $22,865 for females. The per capita income for the city was $20,462. About 5.5% of families and 7.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.9% of those under age 18 and 9.2% of those age 65 or over.
Transportation
Looking west at railroad bridge over the Missouri River, Pierre South Dakota
Inside the Capitol
Dome of the Capitol
Great Lakes Airlines serves Pierre Regional Airport non-stop flights to Denver and Minneapolis–Saint Paul.
The nearest Interstate highway is Interstate 90, which is about 34 miles (55 km) south of Pierre via the four-lane U.S. Highway 83. Pierre is one of only four state capitals not served by an Interstate highway; Dover, Delaware; Jefferson City, Missouri; and Juneau, Alaska, are the other three state capitals with this distinction. Pierre is also the only state capital not served by any expressway.[15]
Media
AM Radio
FM Radio
Television Pierre is part of the Sioux Falls television market; all of the city's commercial stations are satellites of Sioux Falls stations.
The Capital Journal is the local newspaper. OaheTV is the local Public/Education/Government cable channel serving Pierre, Fort Pierre on Midcontinent Communications Cable
Notable people
Tourism
[16]
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Pierre Historic Homes
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Hillsview Golf Course
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Community Garden
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Oahe Dam
Photo Gallery
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The Capital City Queen is a passenger leisure boat on the Pierre waterways.
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References
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^ William D. Halsey, ed. (1976). "Pierre". Collier's Encyclopedia 19. New York: Macmillan Educational Corporation. pp. 42–43.
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^ a b "US Gazetteer files 2010".
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^ a b "American FactFinder".
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^ a b "Population Estimates".
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^ "US Board on Geographic Names".
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^ "Broadcast Pronunciation Guide and South Dakota Pronunciations".
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^ Ullrich, Jan F. (2014). New Lakota Dictionary (2nd ed.). Bloomington, IN: Lakota Language Consortium.
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^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved 2011-06-07.
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^ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990".
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^ Peel, M. C., Finlayson, B. L., and McMahon, T. A.: Updated American map of the Köppen-Geiger climate classification. Earth Syst. Sci., 11, 1633–1644, 2007.
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^ [1]
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^ a b c d "Station Name: SD PIERRE RGNL AP". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved 2013-03-10.
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^ [2]
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^
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^ Staff. "Interstate Highway Fact Sheet" (PDF). American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials. Archived from the original on October 10, 2008. Retrieved February 22, 2012.
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^ http://ci.pierre.sd.us/233/Attractions
External links
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Pierre Chamber of Commerce
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Pierre city government official web site
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The Capital Journal – local newspaper
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Rawlins Municipal Library – public library
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