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–South Dakota State football rivalry that have a game named "University of _ vs. _ State University." The majority of the series' games have been played in on either team's home stadiums in Vermillion (South Dakota) or Brookings (South Dakota State). Three games (1919, 1920, and 1933) were played on a neutral field in Sioux Falls. Since the 1979 season, the Coyotes have hosted their games at the DakotaDome; previously, they played at Darwin Inman Memorial Stadium. The Jackrabbits have played home games at Coughlin–Alumni Stadium starting from 1962 until the 2015 season. Starting in 2016, South Dakota State's football team will be playing in