Vermillion Waséoyuze | |
|---|---|
| Vermillion, South Dakota | |
 Downtown Vermillion | |
 Flag | |
 Location inClay County and the state ofSouth Dakota | |
  Vermillion Location in the United States | |
| Coordinates:42°46′53″N96°55′31″W / 42.78139°N 96.92528°W /42.78139; -96.92528 | |
| Country | United States |
| State | South Dakota |
| County | Clay |
| Incorporated | 1877[1] |
| Government | |
| • Type | Council–manager[2] |
| • Mayor | Jon Cole[citation needed] |
| Area | |
• Total | 4.66 sq mi (12.07 km2) |
| • Land | 4.66 sq mi (12.07 km2) |
| • Water | 0 sq mi (0.00 km2) |
| Elevation | 1,234 ft (376 m) |
| Population | |
• Total | 11,695 |
| • Density | 2,509.1/sq mi (968.76/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−5 (CDT) |
| ZIP code | 57069 |
| Area code | 605 |
| FIPS code | 46-66700 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1267613[4] |
| Website | City of Vermillion |
Vermillion (Lakota:Waséoyuze;[6] "The Place WhereVermilion is Obtained") is a city in and thecounty seat ofClay County.[7] It is in the southeastern corner ofSouth Dakota, United States, and is the state's12th-most populous city. According to the2020 census, the population was 11,695. The city lies atop a bluff near theMissouri River.
The area has been home toNative American tribes for centuries. French fur traders first visited in the late 18th century. Vermillion was founded in 1859 and incorporated in 1873. The name refers to the Lakota name:wa sa wak pa'la (red stream). Home to theUniversity of South Dakota, Vermillion has a mixed academic and rural character: the university is a major academic institution for the state, with its only law and medical schools and its onlyAACSB-accredited business school. Major farm products includecorn,soybeans, andalfalfa.
Lewis and Clark camped at the mouth of theVermillion River near the present-day town on August 24, 1804. The previous day, they had killed their first bison; the next day, they climbedSpirit Mound. In May 1843,John James Audubon visited the Vermillion ravine to view the bird life. The town was considered for the site of South Dakota's firstmental institution (now theHuman Services Center) in 1873, but the hospital was eventually awarded to nearbyYankton. The original town was entirely below the bluffs on the banks of theMissouri River, and three-quarters of it washed away in theGreat Flood of 1881.
William Jennings Bryan andWilliam Howard Taft—candidates for the U.S. presidency in the1908 election—spoke in Vermillion on September 28 and 29, 1908, respectively. Along withEugene Chafin, they toured South Dakota by train, including stops inMitchell,Tripp,Yankton, andElk Point.[8]
John Philip Sousa conducted the Sousa Band on October 26, 1926, at the facility that in 1929 became known as Slagle Auditorium.[9]
According to theUnited States Census Bureau, the city has an area of 4.03 square miles (10.44 km2), all land.[10] The elevation of the city is 1,221 feet (372 m).
| Climate data for Vermillion, South Dakota (1991−2020 normals, extremes 1893−present) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °F (°C) | 74 (23) | 79 (26) | 92 (33) | 99 (37) | 106 (41) | 108 (42) | 114 (46) | 112 (44) | 106 (41) | 98 (37) | 83 (28) | 69 (21) | 114 (46) |
| Mean maximum °F (°C) | 52.8 (11.6) | 58.0 (14.4) | 73.8 (23.2) | 84.9 (29.4) | 90.6 (32.6) | 95.5 (35.3) | 95.9 (35.5) | 94.1 (34.5) | 91.4 (33.0) | 86.2 (30.1) | 70.6 (21.4) | 54.3 (12.4) | 98.1 (36.7) |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 30.5 (−0.8) | 36.1 (2.3) | 48.4 (9.1) | 61.9 (16.6) | 72.7 (22.6) | 82.2 (27.9) | 85.5 (29.7) | 83.3 (28.5) | 78.1 (25.6) | 64.6 (18.1) | 48.2 (9.0) | 34.0 (1.1) | 60.5 (15.8) |
| Daily mean °F (°C) | 20.4 (−6.4) | 25.0 (−3.9) | 36.8 (2.7) | 48.9 (9.4) | 60.4 (15.8) | 70.7 (21.5) | 74.4 (23.6) | 72.0 (22.2) | 64.9 (18.3) | 51.6 (10.9) | 36.7 (2.6) | 24.3 (−4.3) | 48.8 (9.3) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 10.2 (−12.1) | 14.0 (−10.0) | 25.2 (−3.8) | 36.0 (2.2) | 48.1 (8.9) | 59.1 (15.1) | 63.2 (17.3) | 60.7 (15.9) | 51.8 (11.0) | 38.5 (3.6) | 25.2 (−3.8) | 14.6 (−9.7) | 37.2 (2.9) |
| Mean minimum °F (°C) | −15.1 (−26.2) | −9.2 (−22.9) | 0.7 (−17.4) | 18.7 (−7.4) | 32.0 (0.0) | 45.9 (7.7) | 50.0 (10.0) | 48.4 (9.1) | 33.7 (0.9) | 19.9 (−6.7) | 4.7 (−15.2) | −9.1 (−22.8) | −19.4 (−28.6) |
| Record low °F (°C) | −38 (−39) | −33 (−36) | −30 (−34) | 1 (−17) | 19 (−7) | 36 (2) | 37 (3) | 34 (1) | 23 (−5) | 3 (−16) | −24 (−31) | −32 (−36) | −38 (−39) |
| Averageprecipitation inches (mm) | 0.53 (13) | 0.70 (18) | 1.42 (36) | 3.09 (78) | 3.96 (101) | 4.30 (109) | 3.61 (92) | 2.88 (73) | 3.07 (78) | 2.35 (60) | 1.30 (33) | 0.79 (20) | 28.00 (711) |
| Average snowfall inches (cm) | 6.3 (16) | 8.0 (20) | 4.3 (11) | 2.5 (6.4) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.7 (1.8) | 4.2 (11) | 6.7 (17) | 32.7 (83.2) |
| Average precipitation days(≥ 0.01 in) | 4.2 | 4.4 | 5.3 | 8.1 | 10.2 | 9.1 | 7.2 | 7.1 | 6.1 | 6.8 | 4.4 | 4.5 | 77.4 |
| Average snowy days(≥ 0.1 in) | 3.3 | 3.5 | 1.9 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.6 | 1.6 | 3.1 | 15.0 |
| Source:NOAA[11][12] | |||||||||||||
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Vermillion operates under thecouncil-manager form of government. Its governing body has nine members. Eight City Council members are elected from four wards, with two members representing each ward.[13] The Mayor is elected at-large and presides over City Council meetings. The mayor may vote on all matters coming before the governing body. With the consent of the City Council, the mayor appoints individuals to serve on the Library Board and Planning Commission. The Library Board oversees the operations of the Vermillion Public Library and appoints a Library Director. All services and programs provided by the library are overseen by the board. The Planning Commission is charged with overseeing the long-range planning of the community, including zoning issues, subdivisions and formulation of the Comprehensive Plan. The Planning Commission serves a vital role in recommending major policy changes to the governing body for the development of the community.
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1880 | 714 | — | |
| 1890 | 1,496 | 109.5% | |
| 1900 | 2,188 | 46.3% | |
| 1910 | 2,187 | 0.0% | |
| 1920 | 2,590 | 18.4% | |
| 1930 | 2,850 | 10.0% | |
| 1940 | 3,324 | 16.6% | |
| 1950 | 5,337 | 60.6% | |
| 1960 | 6,102 | 14.3% | |
| 1970 | 9,128 | 49.6% | |
| 1980 | 10,136 | 11.0% | |
| 1990 | 10,034 | −1.0% | |
| 2000 | 9,765 | −2.7% | |
| 2010 | 10,571 | 8.3% | |
| 2020 | 11,695 | 10.6% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census[14][5] | |||
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As of thecensus[15] of 2020, there were 11,695 people, 3,895 households, and 1,771 families residing in the city. Thepopulation density was 2,623.1 inhabitants per square mile (1,012.8/km2). There were 4,130 housing units at an average density of 1,003.2 per square mile (387.3/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 86.6%White, 2.3%African American, 3.8%Native American, 3.7%Asian, 3.3% fromother races, and 2.3% from two or more races.Hispanic orLatino of any race were 3.4% of the population.
There were 3,895 households, of which 20.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 32.8% weremarried couples living together, 8.4% had a female householder with no husband present, 3.2% had a male householder with no wife present, and 55.6% were non-families. 35.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.21 and the average family size was 2.90.
The median age in the city was 23.4 years. 15.3% of residents were under the age of 18; 41.1% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 20.7% were from 25 to 44; 14.4% were from 45 to 64; and 8.4% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 47.8% male and 52.2% female.
As of thecensus of 2000, there were 9,765 people, 3,647 households, and 1,801 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,549.3 inhabitants per square mile (984.3/km2). There were 3,967 housing units at an average density of 1,035.6 per square mile (399.8/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 90.95% White, 1.29%African American, 3.37%Native American, 2.46%Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.37% from other races, and 1.56% from two or more races. 1.07% of the population wereHispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 3,647 households, out of which 25.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 37.5% weremarried couples living together, 9.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 50.6% were non-families. 34.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.24 and the average family size was 2.90.
In the city, the population was spread out, with 17.5% under the age of 18, 36.2% from 18 to 24, 24.5% from 25 to 44, 13.4% from 45 to 64, and 8.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 24 years. For every 100 females, there were 91.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.9 males.
As of 2000 the median income for a household in the city was $24,095, and the median income for a family was $40,109. Males had a median income of $28,180 versus $20,975 for females. Theper capita income for the city was $13,909. 26.2% of the population and 16.2% of families were below the poverty line. Out of the total people living in poverty, 19.0% are under the age of 18 and 14.8% are 65 or older.
For the population 25 years and over, 90.7% have a high school education or higher; 45.4% have a bachelor's degree or higher; and 21.2% have a graduate or professional degree.
For ancestries, 36% claim German ancestry; 14.2% Norwegian; 13.4% Irish; 6.6% English; 5.5% Dutch; and 4% Swedish.
| Company | Employees (est.)[16] | Location |
|---|---|---|
| Dakota Care Center of Vermillion | 90 | 125 S Walker St |
| Cafe Brule | 70 | 24 W. Main St |
| Eagle Creek Software Services | 50 | 1215 W. Cherry St |
| Hy-Vee | 135 | 525 W Cherry St |
| Polaris Industries | 120 | 1997 Polaris Pkwy |
| Sanford Health Network | 233 | 20 S Plum St |
| Sesdac Inc | 130 | 1314 E Cherry St |
| South Dakota Department of Military & Veterans Affairs | 96 | PO Box B434 |
| University of South Dakota | 800 | 414 E Clark St |
| Vermillion City | 157 | 25 Center St |
| Vermillion School District 13-1 | 170[17] | 17 Prospect St |
| Walmart | 100 | 1207 Princeton St |
Vermillion's nine parks, totaling 91 acres (37 ha), include several major city parks: Prentis Park, Cotton Park, Barstow Park, and Lions Park. Lions Park offers camping.[18] Prentis Park includes a new swimming pool opened in 2017, with a waterslide, diving board, shallow play area, "lazy river", and snack bar. The park also features adisc golf course and a baseball diamond which was the home of theVermillion Grey Sox, of theSouth Dakota Amateur Baseball Association. The baseball field is currently home of the Vermillion High School, Post 1 American Legion, University of South Dakota club, and VFW teams. The city owns and operatesThe Bluffs Golf Course,[19] an 18-hole championship golf course that overlooks the river bluffs. Vermillion also offers a bike trail along the Vermillion River and several neighborhood parks: Bliss Park, JC Park, Ty Park, Bluffs Park, and Rotary Park.[20]
TheUniversity of South Dakota'sNational Music Museum (NMM) is accredited by theAmerican Alliance of Museums in Washington, D.C., and is recognized as "A Landmark of American Music" by theNational Music Council. It includes more than 15,000 American, European, and non-Western instruments.[21] TheW.H. Over Museum was founded in 1883 and is South Dakota's oldest natural and cultural history museum. Its collections include fossils, botanical and biological specimens, and cultural items related to the history of inhabitants of South Dakota and the Upper Northern Plains.[22] TheAustin–Whittemore House was originally built in 1884 and has since been transformed into a historic house museum. It also serves as the headquarters of the Clay County Historical Society. Built five years prior to South Dakota statehood, this house is one of the few surviving 19th century structures in the vicinity of Vermillion. Its builder, Horace J. Austin, came from one of the first groups of settlers to arrive in Dakota in 1859.[23]
Vermillion has five murals in the downtown business district, three of which are community-based. All three community murals are painted on the Coyote Twin Theater building; the first was painted in 2017, the second in 2019, and the third in 2020.[24] The first mural, "Painting the Town", was designed as the first mural for the Vermillion Community Mural Project by Amber Hansen, a painting professor at the University of South Dakota.[25][24]
In 2019 and 2020, Reyna Hernandez (Yankton Sioux Tribe of South Dakota) led the painting of two murals on the Coyote Twin Building that form a larger cohesive mural.[26] Hernandez, of the Yankton-Sioux Tribe, was assisted by Elizabeth Skye (Standing Rock Sioux Tribe). Inkpa Mani (Javier Lara-Ruiz[27]) led group discussions to help create imagery taken fromNative American creation stories.[26][28]
| AM radio stations | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Frequency | Call sign | Name | Format | Owner | City |
| 570 kHz | WNAX | WNAX Radio 570 | News/Talk | Saga Communications | Yankton |
| 1450 kHz | KYNT | Yankton's Home Team | Soft Adult Contemporary | Riverfront Broadcasting LLC | Yankton |
| 1570 kHz | KVTK | 1570 "The Ticket" | Sports Talk | 5 Star Communications | Vermillion |
| FM radio stations | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Frequency | Call sign | Name | Format | Owner | Target city/market | City of license |
| 89.7 MHz | KUSD | South Dakota Public Broadcasting | National Public Radio | SD Board of Directors for Educational Telecommunications | Yankton/Vermillion | Vermillion |
| 91.1 MHz | KAOR | Coyote Radio 91.1 | College | The University of South Dakota | Yankton/Vermillion | Vermillion |
| 93.1 MHz | KKYA | KK93 | Country | Riverfront Broadcasting LLC | Yankton/Vermillion | Yankton |
| 94.3 MHz | KDAM | The Current | Top-40 | Riverfront Broadcasting LLC | Yankton/Vermillion | Hartington |
| 104.1 MHz | WNAX-FM | The Wolf 104.1 | Country | Saga Communications | Yankton/Vermillion | Yankton |
| 106.3 MHz | KVHT | Classic Hits 106.3 | Classic Hits | 5 Star Communications | Yankton/Vermillion | Vermillion |
Municipalities and communities ofClay County, South Dakota,United States | ||
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| Cities |  | |
| Town | ||
| CDPs | ||
| Other communities | ||
| Footnotes | ‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties | |
| International | |
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| National | |
| Geographic | |
| Other | |
