Growing up in Sioux Falls, I didn’t think very much about it’s origin. I always thought that Sioux Falls was named for the gorgeous waterfall located on the Sioux River that runs through the city. I have since learned that to be incorrect. The city is named for the Sioux Tribe of American Indians as well as the waterfalls on the Big Sioux River which it’s history revolves around. I also discovered the the river itself is named after the Lakota people.
Early history reveals that Tribes of the Lakota and Dakota arrived in the 18th century and used the falls to rendezvous with French fur trappers. Lewis and Clark also described the falls in their journal. In the mid 1850’s, a town was organized near the falls, fueled by the economic potential of the Sioux Falls waterfall. In August of 1862, the town was abandoned due to fear of violence from the local Native Americans. Raiders burned the buildings and destroyed everything.
Three years later, Fort Dakota was established to assure the resettlement of the city. In 1873, the water power of the falls was harnessed which encouraged settlement. Sioux Falls was incorporated as a town in 1877 and as a city in 1889. Northern European immigrants were attracted to the area because it resembled their homeland.
I have been coming to the falls since I was a young child. I loved to scramble around on the rocks and explore the area in my youth, and it’s been fun to watch my son enjoy it as much as I do! It’s a beautiful place to visit and has different personalities depending on the season and the rainfall. The Sioux Falls are a ‘must see’ when you visit Sioux Falls, South Dakota. I promise you won’t be disappointed!
