Where Does the ‘Sioux Empire’ End And ‘Siouxland’ Begin?
Some in southeast South Dakota live in the "Sioux Empire", while others are most definitely residents of the "Siouxland".
But, where is the deciding line? And what does it have to do with the rivalry between Sioux Falls, South Dakota, and Sioux City, Iowa?
The two cities are only 87 miles apart and have been linked for well over a century now. They actually have quite a lot in common.
They're both located on the banks of the Big Sioux River Basin for starters, which begins north of Watertown and ends where the Big Sioux meets the Missouri River near Sioux City.
They were both founded around the same time, with Sioux City in 1854 and Sioux Falls in 1856.
And the most obvious thing the two have in common? They both have Sioux in their name. Being both named after the Sioux, or Lakota Native Americans.
Why is Sioux City Called 'SIouxland?'
The term "Siouxland" was first coined in 1946 by author, Frederick Manfred. He wanted to a term to refer to the Sioux City area where Iowa, South Dakota, and Nebraska come together. He called it an "[A]rea where state lines have not been important."
The name stuck and residents who lived in and around the Big Sioux River Basin area used the name to describe the area for decades.
Why is Sioux Falls Called the 'Sioux Empire?'
However, in the early '90s, residents of Sioux Falls separated themselves from the Sioux City Siouxlanders, by giving the area around the Sioux Falls metropolitan area the "Sioux Empire."
It's generally agreed that the counties of Minnehaha, Lincoln, McCook, and Turner make up the Sioux Empire, while the region as a whole is considered the Siouxland.
In the end, there aren't any official borders for the Empire or the Land. It's really whatever one wants to call it.
Hopefully, this settles the debate, but whether you call it the Sioux Empire, or Siouxland, it's a pretty great place to call home.