Yankton, South Dakota

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Coordinates: 42°52′54″N 97°23′33″W / 42.88167, -97.3925
Yankton, South Dakota
Location in Yankton County and the state of South Dakota
Country	United States
State	South Dakota
County	Yankton
Area
- Total	8 sq mi (20.7 km²)
- Land	7.8 sq mi (20.1 km²)
- Water	0.2 sq mi (0.6 km²)
Elevation	1,211 ft (369 m)
Population (2000)
- Total	13,528
- Density	1,691/sq mi (653.5/km²)
Time zone	Central (CST) (UTC-6)
- Summer (DST)	CDT (UTC-5)
ZIP codes	57078-57079
Area code(s)	605
FIPS code	46-73060^[1]
GNIS feature ID	1259091^[2]

Yankton is a city in Yankton County, South Dakota, United States. The population was 13,528 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Yankton County^[3]. Yankton was the original capital of Dakota Territory. It is named for the Yankton tribe of Nakota (Sioux) Native Americans. Yankton is located on the Missouri River just downstream of the Gavins Point Dam and Lewis and Clark Lake and just upstream of the confluence with the James River. Yankton is commonly referred to as the 'River City', due to its close proximity to the Missouri River, and the importance that it played in the city's settling and subsequent development.

1 Geography
2 Demographics
3 History
4 Education
5 Transportation
6 Media
7 Culture
8 Famous Yankton natives and residents
9 References
10 External links

[edit] Geography

Yankton is located at 42°52′54″N, 97°23′33″W (42.881647, -97.392485)^[4].

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 8.0 square miles (20.7 km²), of which, 7.8 square miles (20.1 km²) of it is land and 0.2 square miles (0.6 km²) of it (3.00%) is water.

Yankton has been assigned the ZIP codes 57078-57079 and the FIPS place code 73060.

[edit] Demographics

As of the census^[1] of 2000, there were 13,528 people, 5,369 households, and 3,232 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,743.2 people per square mile (673.1/km²). There were 5,735 housing units at an average density of 739.0/sq mi (285.3/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 94.35% White, 1.64% African American, 1.58% Native American, 0.50% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.90% from other races, and 0.99% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.46% of the population.

There were 5,369 households out of which 29.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.5% were married couples living together, 9.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 39.8% were non-families. 34.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.27 and the average family size was 2.96.

In the city the population was spread out with 23.4% under the age of 18, 9.8% from 18 to 24, 28.2% from 25 to 44, 21.4% from 45 to 64, and 17.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 96.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.0 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $31,843, and the median income for a family was $44,009. Males had a median income of $29,012 versus $20,577 for females. The per capita income for the city was $17,954. About 6.2% of families and 10.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 10.8% of those under age 18 and 9.1% of those age 65 or over.

According to the 2003 Coldwell Banker Housing Price Comparison Index (HPCI), Yankton was found to have the lowest housing costs of any municipal entity in the entire United States. This is no longer the case as of the 2005 HPCI.

[edit] History

Part of the vast Louisiana Purchase, the site of Yankton was visited by Lewis and Clark in 1804. However, the land was not opened for settlement by treaty until 1859.^[5] The city was founded where the small Rhine Creek (renamed Marne Creek in World War I) flowed into the Missouri River.^[6] The city grew as a stop for steamboats to take on fresh water and supplies, especially after steamboat traffic boomed when gold was discovered in the Black Hills.

[edit] Education

Yankton is served by the Yankton Public School District (K-12), Sacred Heart Catholic School (pK-8), and Mount Marty College.

Yankton was once home to Yankton College; founded in 1881, it was the first liberal arts college in the Dakota Territory. The college closed in 1984. The campus was acquired by the Federal Bureau of Prisons in 1988 for use as the Federal Prison Camp - Yankton.

The Yankton School District has a variety of extracurricular activities including athletics and non-athletics. The athletic teams are universal on all levels of education including the Yankton Middle School and the Yankton High School. The men's athletic team is known as the Yankton Bucks and the women's team is known as the Yankton Gazelles. Yankton's debate team is the host of the annual Lewis and Clark Debate Tournament, held on the last weekend of the month of January.

[edit] Transportation

The city is served by Chan Gurney Municipal Airport

[edit] Media

KVTK (1570 AM) is a radio station licensed to Yankton.

[edit] Culture

Yankton's Riverboat Days is an annual celebration held in the third full weekend in August that attracts 135,000 people. The primarily free event hosts over 150 artists and over 50 food vendors at Riverside Park. Other activities include a rodeo, parade, golf tournament and a snowmobile grass drag race.

[edit] Famous Yankton natives and residents

Tom Brokaw, former NBC anchorman and benefactor of the Auld-Brokaw trail. Yankton's mainstreet, formerly known as "Broadway", was renamed Brokaw Boulevard. It is almost always referred to by its former name.^{[citation needed]}
Lyle Alzado, NFL player, played college football at Yankton College.
Adam Vinatieri, NFL placekicker for the Indianapolis Colts, was born in Yankton.
Robert H. Warren, fourth Superintendent of the United States Air Force Academy