History of Sioux Falls, South Dakota
The origins of Sioux Falls revolve mainly on the Big Sioux River. About 14,000 years ago, the falls were made when the glacial ice sheet detour the river's flow into the large bends of its current course. The falls have been very influential to the early people who inhabited the region. The early settlers left several burial mounds near the river. An agricultural community established fortified cities on the site.
Early explorers were drawn to the magnificence of the falls. The account of the Lewis and Clark expedition talked about the falls, which he called the "Soues River" in 1804. Joseph Nicollet and John C. Fremont surveyed the area in 1838 and made descriptions of the falls.
Big Sioux River was the center of intense land speculation activity in the mid-1850s. Land investors established Sioux Falls in hopes of making wealth by acquiring leading sites prior to the arrival of settlers and railroads in the region.
The Dakota Land Company and the Western Town Company were founded in 1856 to acquire the land surrounding the falls. The first company to arrive was the Western Town Company. The two companies joined forces for mutual protection and laid out 320-acre claims. The companies created a temporary barricade to protect themselves from the threat of the native tribes. After a year, the population grew to approximately 40.
The Dakota War of 1862 consumed southwestern Minnesota. In August of the same year, the town was emptied after two residents died due to the conflict. The residents and soldiers living in the area headed to Yankton in August 1862. The town was plundered and burned after it was evacuated.
Early explorers were drawn to the magnificence of the falls. The account of the Lewis and Clark expedition talked about the falls, which he called the "Soues River" in 1804. Joseph Nicollet and John C. Fremont surveyed the area in 1838 and made descriptions of the falls.
Big Sioux River was the center of intense land speculation activity in the mid-1850s. Land investors established Sioux Falls in hopes of making wealth by acquiring leading sites prior to the arrival of settlers and railroads in the region.
The Dakota Land Company and the Western Town Company were founded in 1856 to acquire the land surrounding the falls. The first company to arrive was the Western Town Company. The two companies joined forces for mutual protection and laid out 320-acre claims. The companies created a temporary barricade to protect themselves from the threat of the native tribes. After a year, the population grew to approximately 40.
The Dakota War of 1862 consumed southwestern Minnesota. In August of the same year, the town was emptied after two residents died due to the conflict. The residents and soldiers living in the area headed to Yankton in August 1862. The town was plundered and burned after it was evacuated.
A military reservation called Fort Dakota was founded in May 1865. A number of the past residents returned to the area, and after a few years, a new batch of settlers came. By 1873, the population increased to over 500.
Sioux Falls was incorporated in 1876. However, the charter was thought to be excessively restrictive, and the town of Sioux Falls applied to become a city. The Dakota Territorial legislature granted the city charter in March 1883.
In the 1880s, the great Dakota Boom happened after the railroads arrived in the region. The city's population peaked at over 10,000 in 1880. The growth in population had a significant impact on the city. Due to the national depression and a severe grasshopper plague, it stopped the city's development in the early 1890s.
News easily spread that legal divorce was easily acquired in Dakota Territory in the early 1880s. Sioux Falls and Fargo became known as the divorce capitals. A lot of people traveled to these two towns looking for a legal divorce. The surge of visitors in the town resulted in the construction of new hotels and restaurants. The situation took a halt by the early 1990s.
Sioux Falls grew at a steady pace after the John Morell meat-packing plant was established in 1909. In the early days of the 20th century, Sioux Falls grew at a faster rate compared to the previous decades.
Sioux Falls was incorporated in 1876. However, the charter was thought to be excessively restrictive, and the town of Sioux Falls applied to become a city. The Dakota Territorial legislature granted the city charter in March 1883.
In the 1880s, the great Dakota Boom happened after the railroads arrived in the region. The city's population peaked at over 10,000 in 1880. The growth in population had a significant impact on the city. Due to the national depression and a severe grasshopper plague, it stopped the city's development in the early 1890s.
News easily spread that legal divorce was easily acquired in Dakota Territory in the early 1880s. Sioux Falls and Fargo became known as the divorce capitals. A lot of people traveled to these two towns looking for a legal divorce. The surge of visitors in the town resulted in the construction of new hotels and restaurants. The situation took a halt by the early 1990s.
Sioux Falls grew at a steady pace after the John Morell meat-packing plant was established in 1909. In the early days of the 20th century, Sioux Falls grew at a faster rate compared to the previous decades.