Huron, South Dakota

Huron is a city in and the county seat of Beadle County, South Dakota, United States.<ref name="GR6">Template:Cite web</ref> The population was 14,263 at the 2020 census,<ref name=USCensus>Template:Cite web</ref> making it the 8th most populous city in South Dakota.

The first settlement at Huron was established in 1880.<ref name="book 43">Template:Cite book</ref> Huron is the site of the South Dakota State Fair and of a statue called the World's Largest Pheasant.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

History

File:South Dakota capital rival 1889 maps.jpg

Huron (left) and Pierre (right) issued rival maps that claimed each as the best place voters should choose for the new state capital in 1890.

Huron was founded during railroad and land booms in the 1880s. The early history of the town is closely linked with the Chicago and Northwestern Railway. At the direction of Marvin Hughitt, general manager of the railroad, the west bank of the James River was selected as the railway's division headquarters. The company gained title to Template:Convert of land at that location. Huron was named for the Huron Indians.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>

The original plat covered 11 blocks, and Huron's first settler was John Cain, a practical printer from Troy, 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.Template:Citation needed

Beginning in 1880, Huron and Pierre 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 with Victorian houses was originally slated for the capitol building.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

• Chronology:
  • 1879 – The town site was located
  • 1880 – Town site surveyed and platted
  • 1881 – First town government formed - a board of four trustees, a town clerk, a justice of the peace, one marshal and a surveyor
  • 1882 – Alderman system of government adopted
  • 1883 – Incorporated as the City of Huron - the city still operates under the original charter and seal
  • 1910 – Changed from alderman to city commission form of government
  • 1935 – City manager form of government adopted

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of Template:Convert, of which Template:Convert is land and Template:Convert is water.<ref name="Gazetteer files">Template:Cite web</ref>

Climate

Huron has a humid continental climate, with hot, humid summers, cold, dry winters, and wide temperature extremes; it is part of USDA hardiness zone 4b.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The normal monthly mean temperature ranges from Template:Convert in January to Template:Convert in July.<ref name = NOAA/> On average, there are 1.7 days that reach Template:Convert or higher, 21.9 days that reach Template:Convert or higher, 66.7 days that do not climb above freezing, 27.7 days with a low of Template:Convert or below, and 3.1 days that do not rise above Template:Convert annually.<ref name = NOAA/><ref name=NCEI/> The average window for freezing temperatures are September 30 through May 5,<ref name = NOAA/> allowing a growing season of 147 days. Extreme temperatures officially range from Template:Convert on January 12, 1912, and January 8, 1887, up to Template:Convert on July 10, 1966; the record cold daily maximum is Template:Convert on January 14, 1888, while, conversely, the record warm daily minimum is Template:Convert on July 11, 1936.<ref name = NOAA/>

Precipitation is greatest in May and June and averages Template:Convert annually, but has ranged from Template:Convert in 1952 to Template:Convert in 2010.<ref name = NOAA/> Snowfall averages Template:Convert per season, and has historically ranged from Template:Convert in 1930–31 to Template:Convert in 2000–01;<ref name = NOAA/> the average window for measurable (≥Template:Convert) 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.<ref name = NOAA/>

Demographics

2010 census

As of the census<ref name ="wwwcensusgov">Template:Cite web</ref> of 2010, there were 12,592 people, 5,418 households, and 3,179 families residing in the city. The population density was Template:Convert. There were 6,023 housing units at an average density of Template:Convert. 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% from other races, and 1.9% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino 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% were married 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.

2000 census

As of the census<ref name="GR2" /> of 2000, there were 11,893 people, 5,263 households, and 3,047 families residing in the city. The population density was Template:Convert. There were 5,872 housing units at an average density of Template:Convert. 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% from other races, and 1.03% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino 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% were married 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. The per capita income for the city was $18,275.

Arts and culture

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.

The South Dakota State Fair is at the South Dakota State Fair Speedway.

Parks and recreation

The city operates a waterpark called Splash Central, featuring an Olympic-sized pool, slides, and children's area.

Government

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 to Social Security Administration, Western Area Power Administration, United States Fish and Wildlife Service, General Services Administration, Farm Service Agency and the USDA. Huron is also home to Area offices for state offices.

Education

The Huron School District, which covers Huron,<ref>Template:Cite web - Text list</ref> 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 of Si 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.

Media

Newspaper

The Huron Daily Plainsman is the newspaper.

Television

KTTW operates a satellite station, operated by Tri-State Christian Television.

Radio

Radio stations include:

• 1210 AM - KOKK (country music)
• 1340 AM - KIJV (adult contemporary music)
• 88.7 FM - KVCH (Christian radio)
• 88.7 FM - K213CL (National Public Radio)
• 93.3 FM - KJRV (classic rock)
• 95.3 FM - K237EL (adult contemporary music)

Infrastructure

Transportation

U.S. Route 14 is an east–west route passing through the northern part of the city. It intersects with north–south South Dakota Highway 37 in the city. This was the historical designation of the north–south U.S. Route 281, which was later moved to a more direct route that passes about ten miles west of Huron.

The Rapid City, Pierre and Eastern Railroad runs east–west, with maintenance facilities and a working roundhouse in the city.

The Huron 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 provides demand-response transit in and around Huron, and also provides a connection to Jefferson Lines intercity buses at Mitchell.

Notable people

• Adolphus W. Burtt, South Dakota Attorney General<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
• Earl Caddock, professional wrestler<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
• J. L. Carr, English novelist, taught at the public school in Huron in 1938–1939 and 1956–1957<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>
• Roxanne Conlin, Iowan politician, ran for senator in 2010<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
• Patrick Davis, Republican political consultant and former director of the National Republican Senatorial Committee.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
• John K. Fairbank, historian of China, was born in Huron in 1907<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
• Archibald K. Gardner, former federal judge<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
• Bob Glanzer, former member of the South Dakota House of Representatives<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
• Josh Haeder, 33rd State Treasurer of South Dakota<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
• Candace Hilligoss, actress<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
• Muriel Humphrey, U.S. Senator from Minnesota in 1978 and wife of Hubert Humphrey<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
• Raymond A. Johnson, aviation pioneer<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
• Amit Kapur, former Chief operating officer of MySpace
• Craig Kennedy, member of the South Dakota Senate<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
• Cheryl Ladd, actress and singer<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
• Vernon C. Miller, Beadle County Sheriff turned Prohibition criminal<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
• Arthur L. Padrutt, Wisconsin politician<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
• John M. Patton, member of the Minnesota Senate and funeral director<ref>Minnesota Legislators: Past & Present-John M. Patton</ref>
• Gladys Pyle, first woman elected to the U.S. Senate without having previously been appointed<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
• John L. Pyle, former Attorney General of South Dakota<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
• Mamie Shields Pyle, women's suffrage advocateTemplate:Sfn
• Mike Rounds, South Dakota governor and U.S. senator<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
• Chic Sale, actor and vaudevillian, born in Huron<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
• Ron Tschetter, Director of the Peace Corps<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
• Fred M. Wilcox, former South Dakota state senator<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

See also

• USS Huron, at least 2 ships

Further reading

• Carr, J. L. (1957) The Old Timers: A Social History of the Way of Life of the Home-steading Pioneers in the Prairie States during the FirstFfew Years of Settlement, as Shown by a Typical Community, the 'Old-timers' of Beadle County in South Dakota. Huron, South Dakota: privately printed.
• Jones , Mildred McEwen (1961) Early Beadle County 1879 to 1900. Huron, South Dakota: privately printed.
• Littlefield, Jennifer and Louis Van Poll. Huron (Images of America). Arcadia Publishing, 2024.
• Template:Cite news

External links

• Huron government website