Pierre, South Dakota

Pierre, the capital of South Dakota, is located in the central part of the state, along the banks of the Missouri River. The community was founded in 1880, opposite Fort Pierre, and was named for Pierre Choteau Jr. of the American Fur Company. Pierre, with a population of 13,876, has the distinction of being the second-smallest state capital, behind Montpelier, Vermont, which has 8,035 residents.

Pierre is a four-season community with January highs average 28F (-2C) while July highs average 89F (32C). It's also a great place to enjoy the outdoors. Area rivers and lakes, such as Lake Oahe and Lake Sharpe, are great places to fish, and you can bring home walleye, northern pike, bass, salmon, trout, perch, and more. And walleye anglers take note: Pierre is home to several walleye fishing tournaments! Hunters can bring home waterfowl, pheasant, grouse, turkeys, and big game such as white tail deer.

A short distance south of Pierre you'll find the 116,000-acre (46,943-hectare) Fort Pierre National Grasslands, which are part of the Nebraska National Forest, covering nearly 1.1 million acres (445,154 hectares). It's a great place to hike, cycle, and camp. There are also numerous trails to explore in the area.

And in town, the Pierre Parks Department has 11 parks, 11 tennis courts, a beach volleyball court, two swimming beaches, indoor and outdoor pools, and 3.5 miles (5.6 kilometers) of bike path, just to name a few. The city is also home to the 18-hole Hillsview Golf Course.

When you've had your fill of a day in the outdoors, come inside and enjoy an evening at a local restaurant, nightclub, tavern, or movie theater. Or take in a show presented by the Pierre Players, the longest-running local theatre group in the state.

And a few more perks of Pierre, according to Pierre Economic Development Corporation: no personal income tax and no personal property tax!

See our 0 Jobs in Pierre, South Dakota