Does Sioux Falls have an official nickname?

Does Sioux Falls, South Dakota have a nickname? An official nickname, that is. I'm sure we all have our own names for our city, depending on the traffic or the weather.

But, is there a nickname for Sioux Falls like 'The Windy City' for Chicago?

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There are actually a few official-ish nicknames for Sioux Falls:

Sioux Falls: The Queen City
Sioux Falls: Best Little City in America
Sioux Falls: Gateway to the Plains

Sioux Falls: Best Little City in America?

From what I could find research-wise, Sioux Falls was given the moniker, "Best Little City in America" when Forbes magazine named it the "best city in America for business and careers in 2017.

What about "Sioux Falls: Gateway to the Plains"?

Supposedly longtime residents call it "Gateway to the Plains", but I've been here since 1981 and I've never heard a single person call it that. Nor could I find any evidence of where the name came from. And if this is true, wouldn't a lot of cities at our latitude, essentially be a "Gateway to the Plains"?

And "Sioux Falls: Queen City"?

According to Dakota News Now, who spoke to Kevin Ganz, the curator of education at the Old Courthouse Museum, businessmen back in the 1880s used the name as propaganda.

"I can't really say why exactly they chose Queen City. "Boston Globe" has entire pages, where it talked about the thriving business that is going on in Sioux Falls.
Entire pamphlets were sent out bragging about Sioux Falls to bring more business and industry to the community.
I think there are also other cities and communities in the country at the same time that are promoting themselves as the Queen City." --Kevin Ganz/Old Courthouse Museum via Dakota News Now

There are many other cities that are using or have used the nickname "The Queen City". So maybe we need to lobby for something more "Sioux Fallsy". What do ya think? Maybe something like "This is Sioux FALLS, not Sioux CITY"?

Flashback 1992: Inside Sioux Falls Old Washington High School

The modern marvel that is YouTube never ceases to amaze me. Sure, there's plenty of garbage there, but you can also find some gems.

Like this video from 1992. It's a sort of video time capsule of the old Washington High School in Sioux Falls. If you came to The Queen City in the last couple of decades, you may only know the building downtown as the Washington Pavilion, a center of Sioux Falls arts and culture.

Before it was the Pavilion, the corner of Main Avenue and 11th Street in Sioux Falls was home to many of the city's schools for most of the 20th century.

Built on the site of the former Central School, WHS's first class of 328 students started in 1908. It was the only high school in Sioux Falls until Lincoln High was completed in 1965.

The class of 1992 was the last class of Sioux Falls to graduate from the old Washington High. That fall the new WHS, constructed on N. Sycamore Ave on the east side of the city, took over the name and educational mission.

Check out the shots below for a flashback to 1992.

Food Network Shows That Have Been To South Dakota

Living here in the upper midwest we are don't end up on national TV shows very often. That's probably a good thing in the long run.

But it is pretty cool when something from South Dakota is on TV. Three shows from the Food Network family of shows have showcased South Dakota restaurants.

You may remember when Guy Fieri and Diners Drive-ins and Dives was in Sioux Falls in June of 2020 to visit some of our city's unique establishments.

A few years ago the Travel Channel Show Food Paradise visited Deadwood.

If you remember the 'golden age' of Foot Network, back when Rachel Ray was the queen of the channel, she took her show $40 a Day to Rapid City in 2005.

Source: What is Sioux Falls’ Nickname, and Where did it Come From?

Filed Under: Sioux Falls News, Sioux Falls nicknames

Categories: Articles, News, Sioux Falls

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