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 their new stadium Dana J. Dykhouse Stadium. (19,340 seats). "The numbers represent what national ranking each team was at the time of the game." South Dakota–South Dakota State football rivalry The South Dakota–South Dakota State football rivalry (also the South Dakota Showdown Series) between the South Dakota Coyotes and the South Dakota State Jackrabbits is a yearly rivalry match-up in football between the two largest public universities in the state of South Dakota: the University of South Dakota in Vermillion and South Dakota State University in Brookings. South Dakota and South Dakota State are both football-only members of the Missouri