# Timeline of Sioux Falls, South Dakota

The following is a timeline of the history of the city of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, USA.

## 19th century

* 1856 - Western Town Company develops townsite.
* 1857 - Dakota Land Company develops townsite.
* 1859 - Democrat newspaper begins publication.
* 1867 - Permanent settlement established.
* 1868 - Sioux Falls becomes capital of Minnehaha County, Dakota Territory.
* 1871 - Cataract House hotel in business.
* 1872
** Sioux Falls Pantagraph newspaper begins publication.
** Calvary Church built.
* 1873
** Sioux Falls Independent newspaper begins publication.
** Population: 593.
* 1874 - Bank for Savings opens.
* 1877
** Village incorporated.
** March: C.K. Howard elected president of village board of trustees.
* 1878 - Sioux Falls Times newspaper begins publication.
* 1879
** Irving School, Free Methodist Church, and Congregational Church built.
** Ladies Club library organized.
* 1880 - Dakota Territorial School for Deaf Mutes established.
* 1881
** Sioux Falls Argus newspaper begins publication.
** Penitentiary established.
** Queen Bee Mill in business.
* 1882
** Telephone begins operating.
** First Baptist Church built.
* 1883
** City chartered.
** April 3: Jacob Schaetzel elected mayor.
** Sioux Falls College founded.
** Sioux Falls Daily Press newspaper begins publication.
* 1884 - Swedish Baptist Church built.
* 1885 - Norberg Paints founded, still operating as the oldest family owned business in the state of South Dakota.
* 1885 - Dakota Deutsche Zeitung German-language newspaper begins publication.
* 1886 - Sioux Falls Bank established.
* 1887
** Streetcars begin operating.
** Dakota Bell begins publication.
* 1889
** Lutheran Normal School opens.
** German Congregational Emanuel Church and Episcopal Calvary Cathedral built.
** Roman Catholic Diocese of Sioux Falls established.
* 1890
** Minnehaha County Courthouse built.
** Porter P. Peck becomes mayor.
** Population: 10,177.
* 1891
** Jordan Methodist Church dedicated.
** Syd Dakota Ekko Norwegian-language newspaper relocates to Sioux Falls.
* 1894 - Fremad Norwegian/English-language newspaper begins publication.
* 1895 - Federal Building and United States Courthouse (Sioux Falls, South Dakota) constructed.
* 1897 - Scandinavian Methodist Episcopal Church organized.
* 1900
** Manchester Biscuit Company in business.
** Western Surety Company created by Joe Kirby.
** Cataract Hotel Burns down, leading to Sioux Falls Volunteer Fire Dept. becoming a paid department.
** Population: 10,266.

## 20th century

* 1903 - Carnegie Free Public Library opens.
* 1905 - Minnehaha Country Club founded.
* 1907 - First Congregational Church (Sioux Falls, South Dakota) built.
* 1908 - South Dakota Central Railway built.
* 1909 - Morrell Packing Plant in business.
* 1910 - Population: 14,094.
* 1911 - Orpheum Theatre built.
* 1912
** Eighth Street Bridge (Sioux Falls, South Dakota) and Central Fire Station constructed.
** McKennan Hospital established.
* 1916 Eastside Fire Station constructed.
* 1917 - Coliseum theatre built.
* 1918
** Augustana College and Normal School established.
** St. Joseph Cathedral (Sioux Falls, South Dakota) completed.
* 1922 - August 17: Three prisoners escape from State Penitentiary.
* 1924
** Masonic Library founded.
** Josephine Martin Glidden Memorial Chapel built.
* 1925 - State Theatre built.
* 1928 - Pettigrew Museum established.
* 1930 - Sioux Valley Hospital built.
* 1936 - March: Two prisoners escape from State Penitentiary.
* 1937 - City Hall built.
* 1942 - Sioux Falls Army Air Base established.
* 1949 - North American Baptist Seminary relocates to Sioux Falls.
* 1963 - Great Bear Ski Area established.
* 1966 - Pathfinder Nuclear Generating Station commissioned in nearby Brandon Township.
* 1970 - Sioux Falls Regional Airport terminal built.
* 1974 - Siouxland Heritage Museums established.
* 1975 - Empire Mall in business.
* 1981 - City of Sioux Falls Township Annexation Study was completed in November 1981
* 1983 - December 20: Airplane accident.
* 1986 - Qwest Tower (Sioux Falls) built.
* 1988 - Sioux Falls Jazz and Blues Festival begins.
* 1990 - Sister city relationship established with Potsdam, Germany.
* 1993 - Sister city relationship established with Strabane, Northern Ireland.
* 1995 - Central Baptist Church built.
* 1998 - City website online (approximate date).
* 1999 - Washington Pavilion of Arts and Science opens.
* 2000 - Population: 123,975.

## 21st century

* 2002 - Dave Munson becomes mayor.
* 2005 - Zip Feed Tower demolished.
* 2008 - Sister city relationship established with Newry and Mourne, Northern Ireland.
* 2010
** Mike Huether becomes mayor.
** Population: 153,888.
* 2011 - October 15: Occupy protest.