Big Sioux River
Overview
Missouri River
The Missouri River flows through the central United States, and is a tributary of the Mississippi River. It is the longest river in North America and drains the third largest area, though only the thirteenth largest by discharge. The Missouri's watershed encompasses most of the American Great...
, 419 miles (674.3 km) long, in eastern South Dakota
South Dakota
South Dakota is a state located in the Midwestern region of the United States. It is named after the Lakota and Dakota Sioux American Indian tribes. Once a part of Dakota Territory, South Dakota became a state on November 2, 1889. The state has an area of and an estimated population of just over...
and northwestern Iowa
Iowa
Iowa is a state located in the Midwestern United States, an area often referred to as the "American Heartland". It derives its name from the Ioway people, one of the many American Indian tribes that occupied the state at the time of European exploration. Iowa was a part of the French colony of New...
in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The United States Board on Geographic Names
United States Board on Geographic Names
The United States Board on Geographic Names is a United States federal body whose purpose is to establish and maintain uniform usage of geographic names throughout the U.S. government.-Overview:...
settled on "Big Sioux River" as the stream's name in 1961.
The Big Sioux River rises in Roberts County, South Dakota
Roberts County, South Dakota
As of the census of 2000, there were 10,016 people, 3,683 households, and 2,618 families residing in the county. The population density was 9 people per square mile . There were 4,734 housing units at an average density of 4 per square mile...
on a low plateau known as the Coteau des Prairies
Coteau des Prairies
The Coteau des Prairies is a plateau approximately 200 miles in length and 100 miles in width , rising from the prairie flatlands in eastern South Dakota, southwestern Minnesota, and northwestern Iowa in the United States...
and flows generally southwardly through Grant
Grant County, South Dakota
As of the census of 2000, there were 7,847 people, 3,116 households, and 2,156 families residing in the county. The population density was 12 people per square mile . There were 3,456 housing units at an average density of 5 per square mile...
, Codington
Codington County, South Dakota
As of the census of 2000, there were 25,897 people, 10,357 households, and 6,877 families residing in the county. The population density was 38 people per square mile . There were 11,324 housing units at an average density of 16 per square mile...
, Hamlin
Hamlin County, South Dakota
As of the census of 2000, there were 5,540 people, 2,048 households, and 1,452 families residing in the county. The population density was 11 people per square mile . There were 2,626 housing units at an average density of 5 per square mile...
, Brookings, Moody
Moody County, South Dakota
As of the census of 2000, there were 6,595 people, 2,526 households, and 1,763 families residing in the county. The population density was 13 people per square mile . There were 2,745 housing units at an average density of 5 per square mile...
, and Minnehaha
Minnehaha County, South Dakota
As of the census of 2000, there were 148,281 people, 57,996 households, and 37,581 families residing in the county. The population density was 183 people per square mile . There were 60,237 housing units at an average density of 74 per square mile...
counties, past the communities of Watertown
Watertown, South Dakota
Watertown is a city in and the county seat of Codington County, South Dakota, United States. The population was 21,482 at the 2010 census. It is also the principal city of the Watertown Micropolitan Statistical Area, which includes all of Codington and Hamlin counties...
, Castlewood
Castlewood, South Dakota
Castlewood is a city in Hamlin County, South Dakota, United States. It is part of the Watertown, South Dakota Micropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 627 at the 2010 census.-Geography:...
, Bruce
Bruce, South Dakota
Bruce is a city in Brookings County, South Dakota, United States. The population was 204 at the 2010 census. It was first called Lee when it was founded in 1881 but was renamed in 1883 for the son one of the early North Western railroad officials. Or it may have been named after Blanche K. Bruce, a...
, Flandreau
Flandreau, South Dakota
Flandreau is a city in Moody County, South Dakota, United States. The population was 2,341 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Moody County...
, Egan
Egan, South Dakota
Egan is a city in Moody County, South Dakota, United States. The population was 278 at the 2010 census.-Geography:Egan is located at , along the Big Sioux River....
, Trent
Trent, South Dakota
Trent is a town in Moody County, South Dakota, United States. The population was 232 at the 2010 census.-Geography:Trent is located at , along the Big Sioux River....
, Dell Rapids
Dell Rapids, South Dakota
Dell Rapids is a city in Minnehaha County, South Dakota, United States. The population was 3,633 at the 2010 census. It is known as "The little city with the big attractions."-Geography:...
, and Baltic
Baltic, South Dakota
Baltic is a city in Minnehaha County, South Dakota, United States. The population was 1,089 at the 2010 census.-Geography:Baltic is located at , along the Big Sioux River....
to Sioux Falls
Sioux Falls, South Dakota
Sioux Falls is the largest city in the U.S. state of South Dakota. Sioux Falls is the county seat of Minnehaha County, and also extends into Lincoln County to the south...
, where it passes over a waterfall
Waterfall
A waterfall is a place where flowing water rapidly drops in elevation as it flows over a steep region or a cliff.-Formation:Waterfalls are commonly formed when a river is young. At these times the channel is often narrow and deep. When the river courses over resistant bedrock, erosion happens...
which gives that city its name.
