How come Pierre has not gotten as big as Aberdeen? (Sioux Falls: university, rail)

[Fargobound]

What does Aberdeen have over Pierre?

[SD4020]

Aberdeen: It was first to have rail service, first to be settled, a 4 year university.

If the state Capitol was not in Pierre it would be town of 1500.

[Fargobound]

You'd think the early settlers would have gave up on Aberdeen the first time it became a frog pond.

[SD4020]

Originally Posted by Fargobound

You'd think the early settlers would have gave up on Aberdeen the first time it became a frog pond.

That first winter would have done me in. 11 years in Pierre were 11 too many.

[shakman]

Compromise geographically between political powers in Eastern & Western SD????

[SD4020]

Originally Posted by shakman

Compromise geographically between political powers in Eastern & Western SD????

The matter was voted on a couple times since statehood. It was quite the contest between Pierre, Mitchell and Huron. It was hotly contested issue. The matter was put to a vote and Pierre won. Geography was one of the main selling points. That being said, east river holds the majority of the state's population. East river tends to hold more clout.

Now when I have to head to Pierre it is a 3 hour drive instead of a 6 hours. So we can all be equally annoyed.

[jmgg]

Originally Posted by SD4020

The matter was voted on a couple times since statehood. It was quite the contest between Pierre, Mitchell and Huron. It was hotly contested issue. The matter was put to a vote and Pierre won. Geography was one of the main selling points. That being said, east river holds the majority of the state's population. East river tends to hold more clout.

Now when I have to head to Pierre it is a 3 hour drive instead of a 6 hours. So we can all be equally annoyed.

Yankton (the old territorial capital) and Sioux Falls were also in the running back when this location decision was made. Sioux Falls even had a location picked out on the east side of town near where the old Austad's corporate headquarters used to be. To this day this residential/commercial area is called Capital Hill Addition.

Central location was the primary reason for Pierre as it was for Bismarck in North Dakota once both areas were separated prior to both becoming states.

I remember hearing that the US president at the time of statehood was the only person who knew the order in which each were given statehood to alleviate any fighting about it between the new states. If this isn't true, it's still a cool story. I'm too lazy to research this and have to get back to work. I'll leave this to UH, EH, or SD 4020 to see if my memory is any good.

I'm glad the capital is in Pierre. We've got too much goose doo doo around Sioux Falls as it is.

[SD4020]

Originally Posted by jmgg

Yankton (the old territorial capital) and Sioux Falls were also in the running back when this location decision was made. Sioux Falls even had a location picked out on the east side of town near where the old Austad's corporate headquarters used to be. To this day this residential/commercial area is called Capital Hill Addition.

Central location was the primary reason for Pierre as it was for Bismarck in North Dakota once both areas were separated prior to both becoming states.

I remember hearing that the US president at the time of statehood was the only person who knew the order in which each were given statehood to alleviate any fighting about it between the new states. If this isn't true, it's still a cool story. I'm too lazy to research this and have to get back to work. I'll leave this to UH, EH, or SD 4020 to see if my memory is any good.

I'm glad the capital is in Pierre. We've got too much goose doo doo around Sioux Falls as it is.

The president that signed us into statehood was Benjamin Harrison. It is rumored that papers were shuffled. It is why North Dakota is the 42nd and South Dakota the 43rd. Yes, you are correct.