The New Student's Reference Work/Sioux Falls, So. Dak.

Sioux Falls, So. Dak., the largest town in the state, is on Big Sioux River and takes its name from the falls which descend 90 feet and afford an excellent water power. The city was laid out in 1857, and destroyed by the Sioux in 1862. It was rebuilt in 1865 after Fort Dakota was abandoned. The buildings are nearly all of red quartzite. The great industry is the quarrying and polishing of the quartzite underlying the city. There also are numerous manufactories, 66 wholesale houses, a state penitentiary, a public library, six banks, ten public schools, six colleges and denominational schools, twelve churches and six railroad-systems. It is the county-seat of Minnehaha County. Population 14,094.