Vermillion, South Dakota
Vermillion
Waséoyuze | |
|---|---|
| Vermillion, South Dakota | |
Downtown Vermillion | |
Location in Clay County and the state of South Dakota | |
| Coordinates: 42°46′53″N 96°55′31″W / 42.78139°N 96.92528°W | |
| Country | United States |
| State | South Dakota |
| County | Clay |
| Incorporated | 1877 |
| Government | |
| • Type | Council–manager |
| • Mayor | Jon Cole |
| Area | |
• Total | 4.66 sq mi (12.07 km2) |
| • Land | 4.66 sq mi (12.07 km2) |
| • Water | 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2) |
| Elevation | 1,234 ft (376 m) |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 11,695 |
| • Density | 2,509.12/sq mi (968.76/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−5 (CDT) |
| ZIP code | 57069 |
| Area code | 605 |
| FIPS code | 46-66700 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1267613 |
| Website | City of Vermillion |
Vermillion (Lakota: Waséoyuze; "The Place Where Vermilion is Obtained") is a city and the county seat of Clay County. It is in the southeastern corner of South Dakota, United States, and is the state's 12th-most populous city. According to the 2020 census, the population was 11,695. The city lies atop a bluff near the Missouri River.
The area has been home to Native American tribes for centuries. French fur traders first visited in the late 18th century. Vermillion was founded in 1859 and incorporated in 1873. The name refers to the Lakota name: wa sa wak pa'la (red stream). Home to the University of South Dakota, Vermillion has a mixed academic and rural character: the university is a major academic institution for the state, with its only law and medical schools and its only AACSB-accredited business school. Major farm products include corn, soybeans, and alfalfa.