Huron, South Dakota | |
|---|---|
 World's Largest Pheasant in Huron | |
 Seal  Logo | |
| Motto: "It's A Brand New Day!" | |
 Location inBeadle County and the state ofSouth Dakota | |
  Huron, South Dakota Location in the United States | |
| Coordinates:44°21′33″N98°13′5″W / 44.35917°N 98.21806°W /44.35917; -98.21806 | |
| Country | United States |
| State | South Dakota |
| County | Beadle |
| Incorporated | 1883[1] |
| Named after | Huron Indians[1] |
| Government | |
| • Type | Commissioner Form |
| • Mayor | Mark Robish |
| Area | |
• Total | 10.81 sq mi (27.99 km2) |
| • Land | 9.72 sq mi (25.17 km2) |
| • Water | 1.09 sq mi (2.82 km2) |
| Elevation | 1,280 ft (390 m) |
| Population | |
• Total | 14,263 |
| • Density | 1,467.54/sq mi (566.64/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−6 (CST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−5 (CDT) |
| ZIP code | 57350 and 57399 |
| Area code | 605 |
| FIPS code | 46-31060[4] |
| GNIS feature ID | 1255722[5] |
| Airport code | HON |
| Website | huronsd.com |
Huron is a city in and thecounty seat ofBeadle County, South Dakota, United States.[6] The population was 14,263 at the2020 census,[7] making it the8th most populous city in South Dakota.
The first settlement at Huron was established in 1880.[8] Huron is the site of theSouth Dakota State Fair and of a statue called theWorld's Largest Pheasant.[9]
Huron was founded during railroad and land booms in the 1880s. The early history of the town is closely linked with theChicago and Northwestern Railway. At the direction ofMarvin Hughitt, general manager of the railroad, the west bank of theJames River was selected as the railway's division headquarters. The company gained title to 880 acres (3.6 km2) of land at that location. Huron was named for the Huron Indians.[10]
The originalplat covered 11 blocks, and Huron's first settler was John Cain, a practical printer fromTroy, New York. He learned in Chicago, from the railroad people, that they would have their chief town and operating headquarters at their James River crossing.[citation needed]
Beginning in 1880, Huron andPierre vied to be selected as the state capital, until Pierre was chosen in 1904. Campbell Park and Winter Park in Huron were previously designated as properties for the capital grounds, and a city block of land between the parks withVictorian houses was originally slated for the capitol building.[11]
According to theUnited States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 10.57 square miles (27.38 km2), of which 9.48 square miles (24.55 km2) is land and 1.09 square miles (2.82 km2) is water.[12]
Huron has ahumid continental climate, with hot, humid summers, cold, dry winters, and wide temperature extremes; it is part of USDAhardiness zone 4b.[13] The normal monthly mean temperature ranges from 16.0 °F (−8.9 °C) in January to 73.7 °F (23.2 °C) in July.[14] On average, there are 1.7 days that reach 100 °F (38 °C) or higher, 21.9 days that reach 90 °F (32 °C) or higher, 66.7 days that do not climb above freezing, 27.7 days with a low of 0 °F (−18 °C) or below, and 3.1 days that do not rise above 0 °F (−18 °C) annually.[14][15] The average window for freezing temperatures are September 30 through May 5,[14] allowing a growing season of 147 days. Extreme temperatures officially range from −43 °F (−42 °C) on January 12, 1912, and January 8, 1887, up to 112 °F (44 °C) on July 10, 1966; the record cold daily maximum is −21 °F (−29 °C) on January 14, 1888, while, conversely, the record warm daily minimum is 82 °F (28 °C) on July 11, 1936.[14]
Precipitation is greatest in May and June and averages 23.32 in (592 mm) annually, but has ranged from 9.72 in (247 mm) in 1952 to 30.89 in (785 mm) in 2010.[14] Snowfall averages 44.4 in (113 cm) per season, and has historically ranged from 10.1 in (26 cm) in 1930–31 to 89.6 in (228 cm) in 2000–01;[14] the average window for measurable (≥0.1 in or 0.25 cm) snowfall is November 3 through April 11, although snow in October occurs several times per decade and snow in May is a much rarer event.[14]
| Climate data forHuron Regional Airport, South Dakota, 1991−2020 normals, extremes 1881−present[a] | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °F (°C) | 65 (18) | 71 (22) | 89 (32) | 97 (36) | 106 (41) | 109 (43) | 112 (44) | 110 (43) | 106 (41) | 102 (39) | 86 (30) | 71 (22) | 112 (44) |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 25.8 (−3.4) | 30.8 (−0.7) | 43.7 (6.5) | 57.9 (14.4) | 70.0 (21.1) | 80.0 (26.7) | 85.7 (29.8) | 83.4 (28.6) | 75.7 (24.3) | 60.2 (15.7) | 43.9 (6.6) | 30.2 (−1.0) | 57.3 (14.1) |
| Daily mean °F (°C) | 16.0 (−8.9) | 20.5 (−6.4) | 32.9 (0.5) | 45.7 (7.6) | 57.9 (14.4) | 68.3 (20.2) | 73.7 (23.2) | 71.3 (21.8) | 62.6 (17.0) | 47.9 (8.8) | 33.1 (0.6) | 20.6 (−6.3) | 45.9 (7.7) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 6.2 (−14.3) | 10.2 (−12.1) | 22.1 (−5.5) | 33.6 (0.9) | 45.9 (7.7) | 56.7 (13.7) | 61.6 (16.4) | 59.2 (15.1) | 49.5 (9.7) | 35.5 (1.9) | 22.2 (−5.4) | 11.0 (−11.7) | 34.5 (1.4) |
| Record low °F (°C) | −43 (−42) | −41 (−41) | −25 (−32) | −2 (−19) | 16 (−9) | 31 (−1) | 37 (3) | 33 (1) | 18 (−8) | −6 (−21) | −28 (−33) | −34 (−37) | −43 (−42) |
| Averageprecipitation inches (mm) | 0.58 (15) | 0.75 (19) | 1.15 (29) | 2.52 (64) | 3.15 (80) | 3.89 (99) | 2.83 (72) | 2.59 (66) | 2.43 (62) | 1.95 (50) | 0.82 (21) | 0.66 (17) | 23.32 (592) |
| Average snowfall inches (cm) | 7.8 (20) | 8.9 (23) | 6.6 (17) | 5.5 (14) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 1.4 (3.6) | 5.8 (15) | 8.4 (21) | 44.4 (113) |
| Average precipitation days(≥ 0.01 in) | 6.3 | 7.0 | 7.0 | 9.0 | 11.2 | 11.6 | 8.8 | 8.0 | 6.8 | 7.4 | 5.4 | 6.4 | 94.9 |
| Average snowy days(≥ 0.1 in) | 6.1 | 6.4 | 4.1 | 2.2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.9 | 3.3 | 6.0 | 29.0 |
| Averagerelative humidity (%) | 71.2 | 73.7 | 73.3 | 66.3 | 66.3 | 68.3 | 65.8 | 66.6 | 67.7 | 66.8 | 72.8 | 74.0 | 69.4 |
| Mean monthlysunshine hours | 179.7 | 182.8 | 229.9 | 251.7 | 307.0 | 332.8 | 362.4 | 329.3 | 258.9 | 215.9 | 152.1 | 144.1 | 2,946.6 |
| Percentagepossible sunshine | 62 | 62 | 62 | 62 | 67 | 72 | 77 | 76 | 69 | 63 | 53 | 52 | 66 |
| Source:NOAA (relative humidity and sun 1961–1990)[14][15][17] | |||||||||||||
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1880 | 164 | — | |
| 1890 | 3,038 | 1,752.4% | |
| 1900 | 2,793 | −8.1% | |
| 1910 | 5,791 | 107.3% | |
| 1920 | 8,302 | 43.4% | |
| 1930 | 10,946 | 31.8% | |
| 1940 | 10,843 | −0.9% | |
| 1950 | 12,788 | 17.9% | |
| 1960 | 14,180 | 10.9% | |
| 1970 | 14,299 | 0.8% | |
| 1980 | 13,000 | −9.1% | |
| 1990 | 12,448 | −4.2% | |
| 2000 | 11,893 | −4.5% | |
| 2010 | 12,592 | 5.9% | |
| 2020 | 14,263 | 13.3% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census[18][3] | |||
As of thecensus[19] of 2010, there were 12,592 people, 5,418 households, and 3,179 families residing in the city. Thepopulation density was 1,328.3 inhabitants per square mile (512.9/km2). There were 6,023 housing units at an average density of 635.3 per square mile (245.3/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 86.9%White, 1.0%African American, 1.2%Native American, 4.9%Asian, 0.1%Pacific Islander, 3.9% fromother races, and 1.9% from two or more races.Hispanic orLatino of any race were 9.8% of the population.
There were 5,418 households, of which 28.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.4% weremarried couples living together, 9.8% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.4% had a male householder with no wife present, and 41.3% were non-families. 36.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 15% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.27 and the average family size was 2.94.
The median age in the city was 39.8 years. 24.1% of residents were under the age of 18; 8.7% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 22.8% were from 25 to 44; 26.4% were from 45 to 64; and 17.8% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 49.4% male and 50.6% female.
As of thecensus[4] of 2000, there were 11,893 people, 5,263 households, and 3,047 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,448.5 inhabitants per square mile (559.3/km2). There were 5,872 housing units at an average density of 715.2 per square mile (276.1/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 95.92%White, 0.96%African American, 1.29%Native American, 0.42%Asian, 0.03%Pacific Islander, 0.35% fromother races, and 1.03% from two or more races.Hispanic orLatino of any race were 1.20% of the population.
There were 5,263 households, out of which 26.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.6% weremarried couples living together, 8.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 42.1% were non-families. 37.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 16.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.18 and the average family size was 2.86.
As of 2000 the median income for a household in the city was $29,097. Males had a median income of $27,027 versus $19,921 for females. Theper capita income for the city was $18,275.
The community operates a fine arts center and community theater.
In 2005, The Huron Event Center was opened, connecting an arena, hotel, and convention center.
TheSouth Dakota State Fair is at the South Dakota State Fair Speedway.
The city operates a waterpark called Splash Central, featuring an Olympic-sized pool, slides, and children's area.
The Huron government is "commissioner form". Under the commissioner form of government the board of commissioners consists of a mayor and four commissioners, who are all elected at large for three-year terms. The commission has control over all departments of the city and can make and enforce rules and regulations which it may see fit for the organization, management, and operation of the departments of the city. Responsibilities are divided into the following areas: Public Safety Commissioner, Public Works Commissioner, Utilities Commissioner, and Finance Commissioner with each commissioner having oversight in each respective area.
Huron has a federal building, field offices that is home toSocial Security Administration,Western Area Power Administration,United States Fish and Wildlife Service,General Services Administration,Farm Service Agency and theUSDA. Huron is also home to Area offices for state offices.
TheHuron School District, which covers Huron,[20] has three public elementary schools, one middle school, and one high school. Huron High School's mascot is the "Tigers". 2022-2023 enrollment is approximately 2900 students.
It was the home ofSi Tanka University (formerly Huron College) from 1883 to 2005.
Huron is also home to a Catholic elementary school called Holy Trinity School, and a private non-denomination K-12 School,James Valley Christian School.
TheHuron Daily Plainsman is the newspaper.
KTTW operates a satellite station, operated byTri-State Christian Television.
Radio stations include:
U.S. Route 14 is an east–west route passing through the northern part of the city. It intersects with north–southSouth Dakota Highway 37 in the city. This was the historical designation of the north–southU.S. Route 281, which was later moved to a more direct route that passes about ten miles west of Huron.
TheRapid City, Pierre and Eastern Railroad runs east–west, with maintenance facilities and a working roundhouse in the city.
TheHuron Regional Airport is city-owned. It had scheduled passenger flights operated by a commuter air carrier, Great Lakes Airlines, with Beechcraft 1900D commuter turboprop aircraft service to Denver. The airport does not currently have any scheduled service.
People's Transit providesdemand-response transit in and around Huron, and also provides a connection toJefferson Lines intercity buses atMitchell.
Municipalities and communities ofBeadle County, South Dakota,United States | ||
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| Footnotes | ‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties | |
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