Since the 1890s, the Old Minnehaha County Courthouse has dominated the skyline in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. The courthouse — and its grand Romanesque clocktower — were built during a time when two industries dominated the city: agriculture and divorce. Separated couples from around the country flocked to Sioux Falls at the tail end of the 19th century, attracted to the largely agrarian city due to its easygoing judges and short-term residency requirement. Hotels and restaurants — some of which still stand today on North Main Avenue — were built to accommodate the so-called "Divorce Capital of the Nation" that expanded along the banks of The Big Sioux River. By the mid-20th century, the economy had shifted to center around the meat packing industry and single-family homes sprung up in mass on gridded suburban streets. Today, the metro area is home to more than 200,000 people, restaurants with cuisine from around the globe and over 80 public parks, some of which border the Big Sioux River waterfalls. "The falls is our number one tourist attraction and it's close to Downtown Sioux Falls ]," says Jenny Downey of HEGG Realtors, who grew up in the area. Sioux Falls is also sometimes referred to as America's "Best Little City," because its home to "People who are still very kind and willing to help their neighbors," according to Realtor Julie Pommer, who works with Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices. "They like to donate and give back; it is very touching when there is a need, and people come together to help each other." For her, "It's Sioux Falls or bust if I'm living in South Dakota."
Falls Park is one the most popular outdoor spaces in Sioux Falls.
Fawick Park is located next to the Big Sioux River.
Falls Park is Downtown Sioux Falls most popular park.
Downtown Sioux Falls has many great local restaurants to choose from.
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Housing options spanning decades
Consistent with national trends, housing prices in Sioux Falls are rising. According to recent RASE — Realtor Association of the Sioux Empire, Inc. — data, the median sale price in Sioux Falls is approximately $335,000 higher than South Dakota averages, but still lower than the national median. Recent years have seen the addition of move-in-ready new construction on the outskirts of town, where options include vinyl-sided single-family homes and townhouses with attached, multi-car garages. List prices tend to hover between $300,000 and $450,000. "There are quite a few new developments going up as well as luxury senior villas and luxury lofts in the downtown area," explains Downey adding that, in her experience, Tuthill, Tomar and Old Orchard represent some of the city's most popular neighborhoods. Prospective buyers will find homes built prior to World War II as well as a variety of midcentury options closer to downtown in communities such as Whittier and Pettigrew Heights . Here, lot sizes are comparatively compact and single-car garages are the standard. List prices typically fall between $200,000 and $350,000. The Neighborhood Revitalization Program has worked to renovate structurally insecure and abandoned homes in Sioux Falls, adding to the city's affordable housing selection.
Single-family homes in Downtown Sioux Falls offer convenient access to a variety of amenities.
Some homes in Downtown Sioux Falls feature charming porches.
The majority of single-family homes in Downtown Sioux Falls are compact in size.
Most Downtown Sioux Falls single family homes are located off of E 14th St.
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Employment and public transit options
Once a city that supported a thriving meatpacking industry, today biomedical companies like Sanford Health and Avera Health now dominate Sioux Falls' economy, also providing top-rated healthcare to residents. Others work in the service industry at companies like Hy-Vee and Walmart, and Citibank employs well over 1,000 jobs. The City's Horizon 2035 Downtown Plan will support growing populations by updating public transportation. "The bus is nice, but the stops are far apart, which can be difficult when it's cold out," says Pommer, adding, "It was amazing when we finally got Lyft." The SAM, or Sioux Area Metro, currently has nine routes throughout the city, connecting the Downtown Bus Terminal to destinations like Southeast Technical Institute, Lincoln High School and the East Walmart. Also within city limits, the Sioux Falls Regional Airport offers direct flights to more than 15 destinations across the country. Downey calls Sioux Falls a "crossroads." "We're at the corner of the state," she says. "So we attract people from Iowa and Minnesota as well as people from rural farming communities. For them, Sioux Falls is a big deal."
Lincoln High School serves students in grades 9-12.
The bus system in Downtown Sioux Falls allows easy access to the rest of the city.
SAM is the public transportatin headquarters in Sioux Falls.
Avera Health serves the residents of Sioux Falls.
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Over 80 public parks in Sioux Falls
"When I moved here, I loved that it had so many green spaces and nature," says Pommer, adding, "There’s a ton to do when the weather is nice. In the summer, there is so much going on we can't keep up." The city is also home to more than 80 public parks, which feature a combined 36 miles of paved trails. Spanning approximately 245 acres, Family Park is the largest park here and is popular with local fishermen and dog owners alike. Recent renovation plans include a nature-based play area and a wetlands boardwalk. Falls Park is the most centrally located, and offers sweeping views of the Big Sioux River's famous waterfalls from atop its lookout tower. It also hosts a farmers’ market on Saturday mornings from May through October, and the trees are decorated with thousands of twinkle lights — part of a celebration called "Winter Wonderland at the Falls" — that takes place over the holiday season. Other outdoor attractions include the Terrace Park Japanese Gardens, Pioneer Park's splash pad and the 12 tennis courts at Tomar Park. Sertoma Park, meanwhile, is a go-to destination for ice fishing. Downey points to planned outdoor attractions like the Jacobson Plaza Ice Skating Ribbon, which is scheduled for completion in 2025.
Barb Iverson Skate Plaza is one of the largest parks in the country at 20,000 sq feet.
Whittier Park visitors enjoy shaded picnic tables and a large playground.
Meldrum park has a playground for the kids.
Heritage Park has a playground for the kids.
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South Dakota's fourth-best public school district
The Sioux Falls School District earns an overall A-minus grade from Niche and serves more than 24,000 students across 43 schools; it's also ranked as the fourth-best school district in South Dakota. Close to 70% of teachers within the district hold master's degrees, and the student body speaks a combined total of more than 100 languages. Minority enrollment hovers around 50% and the district also earned a BCME, orBest Communities for Music Education, Award in 2023. "I've substitute taught there before and the teachers and environment there were amazing," says Pommer.
Opportunities for higher education include the University of Sioux Falls, Southeast Techincal College and Sioux Falls Seminary.
Patrick Henry Middle School serves students in grades 6-8.
Susan B. Anthony Elementary School serves students in grades PK, K-5.
Terry Redlin Elementary School serves students in grades PK, K-5.
Career and Technical Education Academy is located to the west of downtown Sioux Falls.
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Retail and entertainment concentrated downtown
According to Pommer, most of the city's shopping and dining is concentrated downtown. "We need to work on spreading out the restaurants and entertainment venues around town," she says. Even in one of the country's least populous states, residents have access to a variety of international cuisines. There's Mediterranean food prepared by James Beard award-winning chef at Sanaa's, authentic Brazilian cheese bread at Roots of Brasil, a favorite of Downey's, and authentic Lakota Food served at Watecha Bowl. It's common for pubs here to offer a South Dakota dish called "chislic," or deep-fried cubed meat. Residents will find larger scale shopping centers along Interstates 29 and 229.
Sioux Falls also has a thriving arts and culture scene. There's the Sculpture Walk, a downtown public art installation featuring 80 sculptures, the Orpheum Theater Center, which hosts everything from Shakespeare plays to large scale banquets and the Sioux Falls State Theatre Company, which screens classic movies. The Old Courthouse Museum — housed in the Old Minnehaha County Courthouse — has revolving exhibits on local history and residents can look forward to other events like the summer concert series at the new Levitt Shell, Riverfest in August and a St. Patrick's Day Parade in March along Phillips Avenue.
Whittier residents enjoy old and new movies at the Sioux Falls State Theatre.
Whittier residents enjoy lunch at Roots of Brasil.
Whittier is just minutes from downtown Sioux Falls.
Residents of Sioux Falls love the authentic Lakota food of Watecha Bowl.
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Crime and environmental concerns
When it comes to weather, "You never really know what you will get," says Pommer. "I feel like the cold limits who comes here and who stays." Temperatures drop well below freezing in the winter and it's common for the city to receive several feet of snowfall annually. Those who live near the airport will grow accustomed to the sound of planes taking off and landing, and, according to Pommer, the Smithfield Foods Meatpacking Plant beside the Big Sioux River has resulted in some smell complaints. "There are times it just smells and it's very close to downtown," says Pommer, although the plant has taken steps to reduce odors.
According to FBI data, crime rates in Sioux Falls have decreased since 2022 and remain relatively steady. Property and violent crime rates were on par with the national average between 2023 and 2024. According to reports from the police department, street racing represents one of the city's largest problems and the police force is taking steps to address it by introducing new legislation.
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