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 36 in 1926. At that time, it continued further west to the Wyoming border, utilizing the current route of US 16A to Custer, and U.S. Route 16 west of Custer; US 16 went northwest from Rapid City. The western terminus was pulled back to its present location around 1935, when US 16 was rerouted southwest through the Black Hills. In 1933 and 1934, this route was also part of U.S. Route 216, which then continued north to Rapid City. South Dakota Highway 36 South Dakota Highway 36 (SD 36) is an east–west state route located in southwest South Dakota. It begins