Pierre, South Dakota Pierre, South Dakota Pierre (; Lakota: "čhúŋkaške", "fort") is the state capital of the U.S. state of South Dakota, and the county seat of Hughes County. The population was 13,646 at the 2010 census, making it the second-least populous state capital in the United States after Montpelier, Vermont, and the eighth-most populous city in South Dakota. Founded in 1880 on the east bank of the Missouri River opposite Fort Pierre, Pierre has been the state capital since South Dakota gained statehood on November 2, 1889. It was challenged by Huron for the capital and won because of its location in
South Dakota Highway 253 South Dakota Highway 253 South Dakota Highway 253 (SD 253) is an state highway in the north-central part of the U.S. state of South Dakota. It exists entirely within Edmunds County, from U.S. Route 12 (US 12) west of Roscoe to SD 47 north of Bowdle. The route is maintained by the South Dakota Department of Transportation (SDDOT) and is not a part of the National Highway System. SD 253 begins at an intersection with US 12 near Gretna and heads north through flat farmland. It passes a railroad almost immediately and continues north. The route passes by a couple