Vermillion, South Dakota
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Vermillion is a small town in the southeast corner of South Dakota, USA, and the tenth largest city in the state. Vermillion lies atop a bluff on the Missouri River.
French fur traders first visited in the late 1700s, and Vermillion was founded in 1859 and incorporated in 1873. The name refers to the Lakota name: "wa sa wak pa'la", meaning "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 school, a business school, and several well-regarded academic departments such as the Department of Social Behavior. Major farm products include corn, soybeans, and alfalfa. The population was 9,765 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Clay County6.
Vermillion is also home to the National Music Museum.
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[edit] Geography
Vermillion is located at (42.780981, -96.926911)1.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 9.9 km² (3.8 mi²), all land.
Vermillion has been assigned the ZIP code 57069 and the FIPS place code 66700.
The elevation of the city is 1,221 feet.
[edit] Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 9,765 people, 3,647 households, and 1,801 families residing in the city. The population density was 984.4/km² (2,549.3/mi²). There were 3,967 housing units at an average density of 399.9/km² (1,035.6/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 90.95% White, 1.29% African American, 3.37% Native American, 2.46% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.37% from other races, and 1.56% from two or more races. 1.07% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 3,647 households out of which 25.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 37.5% were married couples living together, 9.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 50.6% were non-families. 34.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.24 and the average family size was 2.90.
In the city the population was spread out with 17.5% under the age of 18, 36.2% from 18 to 24, 24.5% from 25 to 44, 13.4% from 45 to 64, and 8.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 24 years. For every 100 females there were 91.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.9 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $24,095, and the median income for a family was $40,109. Males had a median income of $28,180 versus $20,975 for females. The per capita income for the city was $13,909. 26.2% of the population and 16.2% of families were below the poverty line. Out of the total people living in poverty, 19.0% are under the age of 18 and 14.8% are 65 or older.
For the population 25 years and over, 90.7% have a high school education or higher; 45.4% have a bachelor's degree or higher; and 21.2% have a graduate or professional degree.
For ancestries, 36% claim German ancestry; 14.2% Norwegian; 13.4% Irish; 6.6% English; 5.5% Dutch; and 4% Swedish.
[edit] Education
Vermillion has six schools, three of which are elementary, one of which is a middle school, one of which is a high school, and one of which is a college. The two public elementary schools are Austin School (270 students), which educates Kindergarten through second grade classes, and Jolley School (305 students), which educates third to fifth grade classes. The third elementary school, St. Agnes Catholic School (142 students), offers a parochial education from preschool through fifth grade. The Vermillion Middle School (338 students) educates sixth through eighth grade classes. The Vermillion High School (406 students) educates ninth through twelfth grade classes.
The University of South Dakota (8,641 students) has a compact campus, with the majority of the buildings within a 6 block area. The University of South Dakota is home to the state's only medical school and law school, as well as the only accredited School of Fine Arts in South Dakota. The University is also affiliated with the W.H. Over Museum, which sells a variety of prints by Oscar Howe, who was named Assistant Professor of Fine Arts, Artist-in-Residence and Assistant Director of the University Museum at USD in 1957. The historic Old Main building, located on campus, houses an extensive collection of Howe paintings. Vermillion is also home to the only sports dome in South Dakota, the 10,000+ seat Dakota Dome.
[edit] Religion
Vermillion contains many churches of several different denominations consisting of: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, Grace Baptist Church, the Unitarian Universalists of Vermillion, the First United Methodist Church of Vermillion, the United Church of Christ (or the UCC), St. Agnes Catholic Church, the Newman Center (also a Catholic Church), Trinity Lutheran, St. Paul's Episcopal Church, and Hillside Community Church (which is a part of the Christian and Missionary Alliance). For a church in Vermillion adhering to historical reformed orthodoxy there is Providence Reformed Church,which is part of the Reformed Church in the United States (RCUS).
[edit] Personal and Family Needs
[edit] Grocery Stores
Vermillion has three grocery stores: Hy-Vee (on Cherry Street next to Pamida), Jones Food Center (on Cottage Avenue next to Jones' Ace and behind Choice Pharmacy), and a Wal-Mart SuperCenter (off Highway 50 on the north side of town).
[edit] Department Stores
Vermillion has two department stores: Pamida (located next to Hy Vee) and a Wal-Mart SuperCenter (located just off Hwy 50).
[edit] Movie Theaters
Vermillion has two movie theaters: Vermillion Theatre and Coyote Twin, both on Main Street.
[edit] Pharmacies
Vermillion has four pharmacies: Choice Pharmacy (just off of Cherry Street), Davis Pharmacy (next to Choice Pharmacy), Hy-Vee Pharmacy, and Wal-Mart Pharmacy.
[edit] Restaurants
Vermillion has 24 restaurants, covering many cuisines.
[edit] Main Street District
Vermillion's Main Street has a wide variety of stores, ranging from a treat store to a hair salon. Stores along the main drag include: Nook 'n' Cranny, Wilson Florist, Chae's, Doo-Wap Shake Shop, and Never Never Land. Vermillion's two movie theaters also located along this street - The Vermillion Theater and The "Coyote Twin Theater" which also has a video rental section - "Hollywood Video", all three are owned by one owner. Almost all of the banks are off of Main Street as well. Some of these include: Cortrust Back, the Bank of the West, First Dakota Bank, and First Bank & Trust (a Wells Fargo is located in Jones' Food Center on Cottage Street). This is also where one would find the vast majority of the local bars.
[edit] Major Employers[1]
| Company | Employees (est.) | Location |
|---|---|---|
| eTelecare Global Solutions | 350 | 1215 W. Cherry St |
| Hy-Vee | 135 | 525 W Cherry St |
| Jones' Food Center | 90 | 812 Cottage Ave |
| Military Veterans Affairs SD (730th Medical Center) | 100 | 603 Princeton St |
| Polaris Industries | 120 | 1997 Polaris Pkwy |
| Quality Telemarketing Inc. | 60 | 907 N Norbeck St |
| SESDAC Inc. | 100 | 1314 E Cherry St (& other locations) |
| Sanford Regional Health Services | 240 | 20 S Plum St |
| Sanford Vermillion Care Center | 90 | 125 S Walker St |
| Silver Dollar Restaurant (J&J Management) | 60 | 1216 E Cherry St |
| Southeast South Dakota Activity Center | 75 | 1314 E Cherry St |
| University of South Dakota | 1,200 | 414 E Clark St |
| Vermillion City | 160 | 25 Center St |
| Vermillion School District 13-1 | 225 | 1001 E Main St |
| Wal-Mart | 250 | 1207 Princeton St |
[edit] Points of interest along Main Street:
Prentis Park: This Park is a fun place for individuals and families of all ages. It includes two swimming pools (one kiddie pool, and one full size with a waterslide and diving boards), as well as a variety of playground equipment wide open green space. Additionally the park features a snack bar (next to the pool area), several basketball hoops, a baseball diamond (Home of the Vermillion Red Sox, of the South Dakota Amateur Baseball Association), and a disc golf course.
[edit] Cherry Street District
Vermillion's Cherry Street runs the length of the town (West-East). Coming in from the east (Interstate I-29), Cherry Street has many restaurants including Subway, the Cherry Street Grille, Pizza Hut, Dairy Queen, the Roadhouse, the Silver Dollar, as well as many others. If you continue west along Cherry Street, you will pass University of South Dakota campus. Past the campus is McDonald's, the Dakota Dome, and the various grocery stores. Further along (on the left hand side of the road) is the Middle School and the National Guard Armory. If you continue west, you will be on your way out of town and heading towards Highway 50 and Yankton, South Dakota, which is 28 miles away.
[edit] Facts and Trivia
- Lewis and Clark camped at the mouth of the Vermillion River near the present day town on August 24, 1804.
- John James Audubon visited the Vermillion ravine to view the bird life in 1843.
- South Dakota governor Carl Gunderson was born in Vermillion on June 6, 1864.
- 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.
- Piano teacher and theorist Abby Whiteside was born in Vermillion in 1881.
- William Jennings Bryan visited and spoke in Vermillion on September 28, 1908, and William Howard Taft on the next day.
- Arthur Whittemore (of duo-pianists Whittemore and Lowe) was born in Vermillion on October 23, 1916.
- South Dakota's first democratic (Populist) Governor (and a former Vermillion mayor), Andrew E. Lee, died in Vermillion on March 19, 1934.
- Joe Foss graduated from the University of South Dakota (in Vermillion) in 1940.
- Acclaimed folk singer Shawn Colvin was born in Vermillion on January 10, 1956.
- On March 24, 1967; Thomas James White Hawk and William Stands murdered Vermillion jeweler James Yeado and raped his wife.
- Donald Opperman's car parked illegally on the streets on December 10, 1973 leads to U.S. Supreme Court case South Dakota v. Opperman decided March 29, 1976.
- Birth place of Mitchell Olson on March 17, 1977, contestant of Survivor.
- Birth place of Minnesota Vikings linebacker Ben Leber on December 7, 1978.
- Birth place of actress Rachael Bella on March 13, 1984.
- Hometown of U.S. Senator Tim Johnson.
- Tom Brokaw went to The University of South Dakota (in Vermillion).
- Pat O'Brien, sportscaster, attended the University of South Dakota.
- Ratingen, Germany is the sister city of Vermillion.
[edit] Links
- City of Vermillion government website
- Vermillion EMS
- Vermillion Plain Talk - local newspaper
- University of South Dakota
- Volante - The award winning student newspaper of The University of South Dakota
- Progressive Vermillion
- Maps and aerial photos
- Street map from Google Maps, or Yahoo! Maps, or Windows Live Local
- Satellite image from Google Maps, Windows Live Local, WikiMapia
- Topographic map from TopoZone
- Aerial image or topographic map from TerraServer-USA
[edit] References
- ^ Dun & Bradstreet's Million Dollar Database (2007)
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State of South Dakota Pierre (capital) |
|---|---|
| Regions | |
| Cities |
Aberdeen | Brandon | Brookings | Huron | Madison | Mitchell | Pierre | Rapid City | Sioux Falls | Spearfish | Sturgis | Vermillion | Watertown | Yankton |
| Counties |
Aurora | Beadle | Bennett | Bon Homme | Brookings | Brown | Brule | Buffalo | Butte | Campbell | Charles Mix | Clark | Clay | Codington | Corson | Custer | Davison | Day | Deuel | Dewey | Douglas | Edmunds | Fall River | Faulk | Grant | Gregory | Haakon | Hamlin | Hand | Hanson | Harding | Hughes | Hutchinson | Hyde | Jackson | Jerauld | Jones | Kingsbury | Lake | Lawrence | Lincoln | Lyman | Marshall | McCook | McPherson | Meade | Mellette | Miner | Minnehaha | Moody | Pennington | Perkins | Potter | Roberts | Sanborn | Shannon | Spink | Stanley | Sully | Todd | Tripp | Turner | Union | Walworth | Yankton | Ziebach |
