Sioux Falls

Sioux Falls
Sioux Falls is located in South Dakota in the United States of America. This city was founded in 1883. Gradually, this city has grown from a dull Midwestern town to a huge center for shopping and tourism.

Today, this city is widely renowned as the largest urban center between Minneapolis and Denver. According to the 2006 census, the city had a population of 142,396 and urban population of 212,911.

The city of Sioux Falls is situated on the grassland of the Great Plains. It lies primarily in Minnehaha County (of which it is the county seat). Sioux Falls has over the time, become the regional center of urban and rural interaction.

History
The history of Sioux Falls can be found from the famous gushing Sioux River. People of different origins started inhabiting the region because of the falls. These people worked to create an agricultural society and built their villages near the river. Among the different inhabitants, the most popular were the Lakota, Dakota, Nakota and other Native Americans, who reside in Sioux Falls till this day.

City Government
The city of Sioux Falls elects a mayor of the council who runs the government. The mayor is elected every four years. The City council members are also selected after every four years. The council consists of five members elected to represent different sections of the city and three additional seats that represent the city as a whole. Sioux Falls operates with the state of South Dakota.

Crime
The crime rate in Sioux Falls is half of the United States average crime rate.The Mayor of the city strives to make the city safer for the people by getting illegal guns off the streets.

Geographical Facts
Sioux Falls is located in the extreme eastern part of South Dakota, about 15 miles west of the Minnesota border and 8 miles northwest of the Iowa border. According to the United States Census Bureau, as of 2000, the city had a total area of 56.3 square miles. The total area of water is just is 0.04%.Remaining area is land.

Climate
Owing to its location, Sioux Falls experiences a humid continental climate, which has hot, relatively humid summers and cold, drier winters. The average high temperature for the warmest month, July, is 86 ?F(30 ?C) while the average low for January, the coldest month, is 5 ?F(-15 ?C).Winters receive an average snowfall of 39.6in.(100cm).

Economy
The Sioux Falls citys economy was primarily due to agriculturally-based industries during the early days of its origin. However, Sioux Falls has expanded and today its economy is based on diversified industries. The city has become an important location for financial services, health care, and retail trade.

Sioux Falls is home to a number of financial companies. This somewhat owes to the lack of state corporate income tax. The largest among these is the popular Citigroup. Other important financial service companies located here include Great Western Bank, Total Card Inc., BankFirst, Capital Card Services, HSBC, PREMIER Bankcard, and Wells Fargo.

Business Opportunities
Sioux Falls was ranked by the CNN Money Web site as one of the 100 best places to live and for launching a new business. The site ranked Sioux Falls as number 45 on the list. This primarily owes to the business friendly tax structure in South Dakota which costs 45 percent less to opening a business in Sioux Falls than in New York. You can find highly educated workforce in Sioux Falls city.

Health Care Facilities
Sioux Falls is a major regional health care center. There are four major hospitals in Sioux Falls: Sanford Health, Avera McKennan Hospital, the South Dakota Veterans Hospital and the Avera Heart Hospital of South Dakota.

Parks and Recreation
There are a large number of parks spread throughout the Sioux Falls city. The most popular of them is the Falls Park, named after the waterfalls on the Big Sioux River. Other famous parks include the Terrace Park, Sherman Park and the Yankton Trail Park. Each of these parks boasts a paved path which is commonly used by locals for biking, jogging and walking.

This path resembles the course of the Big Sioux River, and forms a circular loop around central Sioux Falls. During the winter, the famous Great Bear Recreation Park offers skiing, snowboarding and tubing. In summers, the Falls Park holds a sound and light show giving an insight on the history of Sioux Falls.

Galleries & Museums
The Center for Western Studies is a famous gallery with 200 collections associated with the history and culture of the Northern Plains.The Delbridge Museum of Natural History is a unique museum with 145 mounted specimens of wildlife. This museum attracts younger children.

The Northern Plains Gallery is popular for its original displays of art by American Indians from the Northern Plains.The Old Courthouse Museum is a National Historic Landmark and hosts lectures, workshops and various childrens programs. The Visual Arts Center at the Washington Pavilion features a wide range of exhibits for both adults and children.

Other Attractions
Great Plains Zoo is a favorite hangout for kids. More than 500 animals populate the grounds of this zoo. Kirby Science Discovery Center boasts a giant-screen (IMAX) theatre. Various hands-on science experiences are displayed on this screen for children.

Sertoma Butterfly House is home to a wide selection of natural habitats such as free flying butterflies and other tropical animals. Children are greatly fascinated by this unique Butterfly House. USS South Dakota Battleship Memorial has been built to honor the battleship of World War II.

Golf
Sioux Falls has a wide range of golf courses. These golf courses are available at a comparatively low admission fees. The most popular of these are the Bakker Crossing Golf Course, the Elmwood Golf Course, and the Kuehn Park Golf Course. Greens fee for 18 holes range from $23-$27 and for 9 holes range from $9-$10.

Outdoor Activities
Catfish Bay is popular for holding stage shows and for allowing water skiing. This provides a unique experience for both adults and kids.

Wild Water West Waterpark is the South Dakotas largest waterpark with plenty of activities for kids and children. Cloud 9 Balloons offers early morning and evening hot-air balloon rides over Sioux Falls and the surrounding areas.

The view of Sioux Falls from the height is indeed overwhelming. Country Apple Orchard is situated 5 miles south of Sioux Falls on Minnesota Avenue. This orchard lets you pick your own apples and offers pony rides for your kids. You can also enjoy some homemade apple.

Conclusion
Sioux Falls can be an ideal choice for those who enjoy a relaxed pace of life. This city is not bustling or endowed with every modern convenience. However, it is perfect for those people who value relations with neighborhood. With an incredible scenic beauty, Sioux Falls is a calm place with a friendly old western feel.