Vermillion, South Dakota
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Vermillion Waséoyuze |
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|---|---|
| City | |
| Vermillion, South Dakota | |
Downtown Vermillion
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 Location in Clay County and the state of South Dakota |
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 Vermillion
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| Coordinates: 42°46′52″N 96°55′37″W / 42.78111°N 96.92694°WCoordinates: 42°46′52″N 96°55′37″W / 42.78111°N 96.92694°W | |
| Country | United States |
| State | South Dakota |
| County | Clay |
| Incorporated | 1877 |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | John Powell |
| Area | |
| • Total | 4.03 sq mi (10.44 km2) |
| • Land | 4.03 sq mi (10.44 km2) |
| • Water | 0 sq mi (0 km2) |
| Elevation | 1,224 ft (373 m) |
| Population (2010) | |
| • Total | 10,571 |
| • Estimate (2015) | 10,738 |
| • Density | 2,623.1/sq mi (1,012.8/km2) |
| Time zone | Central (CST) (UTC-6) |
| • Summer (DST) | CDT (UTC-5) |
| ZIP code | 57069 |
| Area code(s) | 605 |
| FIPS code | 46-66700 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1258745 |
| Website | City of Vermillion |
Vermillion (Lakota: Waséoyuze; "The Place Where Vermilion is Obtained") is a city in and the county seat of Clay County, in the southeastern corner of the state of South Dakota, and the eleventh largest city in the state. According to the 2010 Census, the population was 10,571. The city lies atop a bluff near the Missouri River.
The area has been home to various Native American tribes for centuries. French fur traders first visited in the late 18th century. Vermillion was founded in 1859 and incorporated in 1873. The name refers to the Lakota name: wa sa wak pa'la (red stream). Home to the University of South Dakota, Vermillion has a mixed academic and rural character: The university is a major academic institution for the state, boasting the state's only law and medical schools, and the state's only AACSB accredited business school. Major farm products include corn, soybeans, and alfalfa.
Lewis and Clark camped at the mouth of the Vermillion River near the present-day town on August 24, 1804. The previous day, they had killed their first bison; and the following day, they climbed Spirit Mound, according to Clark's journal.
In May 1843, John James Audubon visited the Vermillion ravine to view the bird life. The town was considered for the location of South Dakota's first mental institution (now the Human Services Center) in 1873, although the hospital was eventually located in nearby Yankton.
The original town was entirely located below the bluffs on the banks of the Missouri River, and three-quarters of the town was washed away in the Great Flood of 1881.
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Wikipedia