Pierre History Facts and Timeline

(Pierre, South Dakota - SD, USA)

The history of South Dakota and Pierre stretches back many thousands of years, with the earliest inhabitants being Paleo Indians. These communities were followed by tribes of people known as 'Mount Builders' in the 6th century, while the Arikaras arrived much later, at the start of the 16th century. In the 19th century, the Sioux peoples were especially dominant.

The earliest known Europeans to explore this area came here in the early part of the 1740s. An area of land next to present-day Pierre was claimed on behalf of France by the La-Verendrye brothers, who buried an inscribed plate to mark their visit.

Many decades passed and it was not until the second decade of the 19th century that a significant post for trading fur was established at the site of Fort Pierre, a suburb today on the opposite bank of the Missouri River. Ever since that time, the area has been inhabited continuously.

Settlement and Growth

Settlement of Fort Pierre was well and truly established by the arrival of the 1850s, with the town welcoming immigrants from all over America and Europe. A treaty was subsequently signed with the native Sioux, where land was signed over to the United States.

In the 1860s, the territory of Dakota welcomed the railroad, which immediately made South Dakota extremely easy to reach. As a result of its accessibility, Fort Pierre witnessed something of a population boom soon after.

It was at this stage in South Dakota history, in the year 1880, that the new town of Pierre was officially founded, being incorporated just three years later and becoming an important landing site for ferries. However, prosperity was relatively short lived, with South Dakota suffering at the hands of terrible droughts, causing many crops to fail.

The Creation of South Dakota as a United State

At the beginning of 1889, South Dakota joined the union, becoming the 40th of America's states. At this period in history, Pierre experienced little in the way of growth, due to a decline in economy and a national depression. A few years later, things began to noticeably improve and the nation as a whole showed signs of recovery.

In the year 1890, the South Dakota government announced that Pierre had been chosen to serve as the state capital, after much competition with Mitchell town. Plans were drawn up for a grand State Capitol Building, complete with dome and ornate stone columns, although construction work did not actually begin until 1905. The South Dakota State Capitol was finished five years later and cost in the region of US$1 million.

The 20th Century Onwards

Many of the most noteworthy dates in Pierre history occurred during the 20th century. Following the First World War, the Great Depression of the 1930s saw a period of extreme unemployment, which was made worse by a drought and endless dust. In an attempt to turn things around, many of the locals in Pierre joined government agencies, such as the Civilian Conservation Corps.

The year 1944 saw the building of the nearby Oahe Dam on the Missouri River, just to the north of Pierre, while Mother Nature showed her hand with a serious blizzard in 1949 and floods in 1952. Today, visitors with an interest in history should look up the South Dakota State Historical Society, which is located right here in the state capital, on Governors Drive.