Earth Day Network
 Urban Environment Report: How Does Your City Perform?
 
CITY ENVIRONMENT DATA
Sioux Falls, South Dakota
State South Dakota
City Sioux Falls*
County1 Minnehaha*
City Population (2005)2 132,358 17.7% of state population
City Population Rank in United States, largest 50 Cities (2005) (Not Available)
City Population Rank in Urban Environment Report (2005) 62 (of 72 in EDN study)
City Population Rank in State (2005) 1
City Size Classification - Population Small
City Size Classification - Population Density Medium Low Density
State Capitol City Pierre
State Population (2005)2 746,033
 
 
CIVIC LEADERSHIP INFORMATION
Mayor Name (as of 1/1/2007) Dave Munson
Mayor/City Website (as of 1/1/2007) http://www.siouxfalls.org/Mayor.aspx
Mayor/City Contact (as of 1/1/2007) 605-367-8000
Mayor Political Affiliation (as of 1/1/2007) Republican
Next General Mayoral Election Tuesday, April 13, 2010
US Mayors Climate Protection Agreement as of 10/18/06  No
State Governor Name Mike Rounds
State/Governor Website http://www.state.sd.us/
State/Governor Contact Information 605-773-3212
State/Governor Party Affiliation Republican
State Governor Current Term Ends January 1, 2011
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Note: All rank information is out of 72 cities, though not all may have reported in every category.
1 is the 'best' (least polluting, most tree cover, etc) and 72 is the 'worst'.
 

(1 is best, 5 is worst) (1 is best, 72 is worst)
Detail Information Data City Rank State Rank
 
EDN VULNERABLE POPULATION INDEX (EDN VPI) 1.13    
Vulnerable Population Estimate 11.5%    
     Disability Status 16.2% 44  
     Emphysema 1.18% 37  
     Cardiovascular Disease 23.97% 36  
     Diabetes 5.03% 37  
     Pediatric Asthma 8.63% 70  
     Adult Asthma 7.04% 3  
     Adult Obesity 20.6%   28
     People Without Health Insurance 12.1%   17
     Age: Children under 5 years 7.3% 31  
     Age: 65 years and over 11.1% 43  
     Not Literate (Adult Level 1 Literacy) 11.0% 4  
     Adults without High School Degree (or higher) 11.5% 62  
     High School Drop-Out Rate 19.7% 67  
     Unemployed (Civilian Labor Force) 4.6% 3  
     Individuals Below Poverty 8.4% 3  
     Children (under 18 years old) Below Poverty 10.3% 4  
     Free or Reduced Lunch 24.2% 5  
     Other Languages Spoken at Home (primary language is not English) 7.4% 11  
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(1 is best, 5 is worst) (1 is best, 72 is worst)
Detail Information Data City Rank State Rank
1 • TOXICS & WASTE     (metadata) (score) 2.1    
Overall Toxics Rank Average 7.1 (of 51) 5  
Cumulative Cancer-Causing Chemical Releases by State (pounds, 1987 - 2000) 1,269,364 pounds   6
Cumulative Developmental Toxicant Releases by State (pounds, 1987 - 2000) 4,399,688 pounds 10
Cumulative Reproductive Toxicant Releases by State (pounds, 1987 - 2000) 9,570 pounds 2
Cumulative Suspected Neurological Toxicant Releases by State (pounds, 1987 - 2000) 33,652,415 pounds 8
Cumulative Suspected Respiratory Toxicant Releases by State (pounds, 1987 - 2000) 29,916,846 pounds 7
Dioxin Releases by State (grams in 2000) 13.7 grams 16
Number of Superfund Sites in County 0 sites 1  
Municipal Solid Waste Generation, tons per person (1997) 0.400 tons per person 1
Recycling Rate (1997) 42.0% 3
Tons Municipal Solid Waste Generated by State (2004) 537,629 tons 1
Municipal Solid Waste Generated Per Capita by State, tons/person (2004) 0.7 tons/person 1
Tons Municipal Solid Waste Recycled by State (2004) 16,129 tons 50
% Municipal Solid Waste Recycled by State (2004) 3.0% 49
% Municipal Solid Waste to Waste-to-Energy (2004) 0.0% 36
% Change in Municipal Solid Waste Generated (1997 to 2004) 75.0% 42
% Change in State Recycling Rate (1997 to 2004) -92.9% 49
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(1 is best, 5 is worst) (1 is best, 72 is worst)
Detail Information Data City Rank State Rank
2 • AIR QUALITY     (metadata) (score)    1.2***    
Sulfur Dioxide (SO2) Released, Tons in 2002 11,800 tons   7
Nitrogen Oxides (NOx) Released, Tons in 2002 15,000 tons   10
Carbon Dioxide (CO2) Released, Tons in 2002 3,760,400 tons   4
Mercury Released, Pounds in 2002 100.0 pounds   7
High Ozone Days (annual # of, Weighted Average) (2001-2003) 0.0 days 1  
Short-term Particle Pollution Weighted Average, 24 Hour (2001 - 2003) 0.0 PM2.5 1  
Year-Round Particle Pollution - Design Value (Annual PM2.5) (2001 - 2003) 10.0 PM2.5 12  
High Ozone Days (annual # of, Weighted Average) (2002 - 2004) 0.0 days 1  
Short-term Particle Pollution Weighted Average, 24 Hour (2002 - 2004) 0.0 PM2.5 1  
Year-Round Particle Pollution - Design Value (Annual PM2.5) (2002 - 2004) 9.9 PM2.5 14  
EPA Ambient Carbon Monoxide (CO) (8-hr ppm) (Not Available) (Not Available)  
EPA Ambient Lead (PB) Q Max (ug/m3) (Not Available) (Not Available)  
EPA Mean Ambient Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2 ppm) 0.008 ppm 5  
EPA Larger Particle (PM10) 24-hr (ug/m3) 27 ug/m3 31  
EPA Mean Ambient Sulfur Dioxide (SO2 ppm) 0.001 ppm 2  
EPA Days over 100 AQI (Warning Level) (Not Available) (Not Available)  
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(1 is best, 5 is worst) (1 is best, 72 is worst)
Detail Information Data City Rank State Rank
3 • DRINKING & SURFACE WATER     (metadata) (score)    1.3***    
DRINKING WATER QUALITY
Tap Water Quality & Compliance Grade (Not Available) ---  
Right to Know Report, What's in your Tap Water Grade (Not Available) ---  
Drinking Water Source Protection Grade (Not Available) ---  
WATERSHED & RESOURCES
Watershed Name Lower Big Sioux ---  
# of Units in Watershed 17 units 50  
# of Assessed Watershed Units 17 units 41  
# of Threatened & Impaired Watershed Units 14 units 31  
% of Watershed Units Assessed as Impaired or Threatened 82.4% 45  
% of Watershed Units Not Assessed 0.0% 1  
U.S. Census Annual Rainfall, inches (1961-1990) 23.86 inches 50  
Water Area Total, square miles 1,225 square miles 39  
Water Area Inland, square miles 1,225 square miles 30  
Water Area Coastal, square miles 0 square miles 35  
Water Area Great Lakes, square miles 0 square miles 10  
Average # of Days with Precipitation of .01 Inch or More to 1998, Station Sioux Falls ---  
Average # of Days with Precipitation of .01 Inch or More to 1998, Length of record in years 53 years 40  
Average # of Days with Precipitation of .01 Inch or More to 1998, Annual 99 days 43  
Snow & Ice Pellets (thru 1998), Station Sioux Falls ---  
Snow & Ice Pellets (thru 1998), Length of record in years 53 years 39  
Snow & Ice Pellets, Annual inches (thru 1998) 41.0 inches 15  
WATER WITHDRAWN
Water Withdrawn - Total, gallons/day 460,000,000 gallons/day 68  
Fresh Water Withdrawn - Per capita, gallons/day 631,000,000 gallons/day 58  
Ground water, gallons/day 187,000,000 gallons/day 62  
Surface water, gallons/day 273,000,000 gallons/day 69  
Irrigation, gallons/day 269,000,000 gallons/day 41  
Public Supply, gallons/day 97,000,000 gallons/day 68  
Industrial, gallons/day 32,000,000 gallons/day 65  
Thermo-Electric, gallons/day 5,300,000,000 gallons/day 71  
Fresh Water Consumption, gallons/day 249,000,000 gallons/day 57  
WATER POLLUTION
Water Supplier Sioux Falls Water ---  
Number of People Served by Water Supplier 128,000 people 64  
Year(s) Included in Summary 2003 ---  
Total Contaminants Detected 1 contaminant 4  
Contaminants Detected, Over Health Based Limits 0 contaminants 1  
Agricultural Pollutants Detected 1 contaminant 6  
Agricultural Pollutants Detected, Over Health Based Limits 0 contaminants 1  
Sprawl and Urban Pollutants Detected 1 contaminant 6  
Sprawl and Urban Pollutants Detected, Over Health Based Limits 0 contaminants 1  
Industrial Pollutants Detected 1 contaminant 5  
Industrial Pollutants Detected, Over Health Based Limits 0 contaminants 1  
Water Treatment & Distribution By-Products Detected 0 contaminants 1  
Water Treatment & Distribution By-Products Detected, Over Health Based Limits 0 contaminants 1  
Naturally Occurring Contaminants Detected 1 contaminant 5  
Naturally Occurring Contaminants Detected, Over Health Based Limits 0 contaminants 1  
WATER HEALTH & TESTING SUMMARY
Contaminants in Tap Water 1 contaminant 4  
Contaminants in Tap Water, Over Health Based Limits 0 contaminants 1  
Contaminants Reported as Tested by this Water Supplier 1 contaminant 61  
Contaminants with Federal Legal Limit in Tap Water 73 contaminants ---  
Regulated Contaminants Tested 1 contaminant 61  
Unregulated Contaminants Tested 0 contaminants 61  
WATER VIOLATION SUMMARY
Total Violations 0 violations 1  
Health Violations 0 violations 1  
Monitoring Violations 0 violations 1  
Reporting Violations 0 violations 1  
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(1 is best, 5 is worst) (1 is best, 72 is worst)
Detail Information Data City Rank State Rank
4 • QUALITY OF LIFE (SITES4)     (metadata) (score)    2.6***    
DENSITY & SPRAWL
Population Density, people per square mile of land area 2,201.4 people per square mile 55  
Housing Density, units per square mile of land area 917.7 housing units per square mile 56  
TRANSPORTATION
Mean Travel Time to Work, minutes (2000) 15.7 minutes 3  
Mean Travel Time to Work, minutes (2004) 15.7 minutes 3  
Means of Transportation - % Carpool (2000) 9.2% 69  
Means of Transportation - % Public (2000) 0.9% 67  
Means of Transportation - % Walk or Bike (2000) 2.5% 46  
Means of Transportation - % Work @ Home (2000) 2.7% 37  
Cost of Living: Transportation, % of National Average 99.3 22  
Motor Vehicle Registrations per 100 Residents (2003) 110.9 MV registrations   47
% Change in Motor Vehicle Registrations (1980 to 2003) 37.6%   20
Motor Vehicle Registrations - Autos Only per 100 Residents (2003) 52.0 MV registrations   41
Motor Vehicle Registrations per Licensed Driver (2003) 1.49 MV registrations   47
Total State Highway Mileage (2003) 83,688 miles   28
Total State Highway Mileage, Estimated % of Land Area (2003) 0.251%   14
Urban Highway Mileage, % of Total State Highway Mileage (2003) 2.7%   50
Total Highway Mileage per Licensed Driver (2003) 0.15 miles   50
Total Highway Mileage per Motor Vehicle Registration (2003) 101.19 miles   50
State $ Disbursements for Highways (2003) $441,000,000   6
State $ Disbursements for Highways, per highway mile (2003) $5,270 per mile   2
% Change in State Disbursements for Highways (1995 to 2003) 54.2%   26
Annual Person Hours of Delay, per person (2003) (Not Available) (Not Available)  
Annual Congestion Cost, $ per person (2003) (Not Available) (Not Available)  
Annual Congestion Delay and Fuel Cost (2003) (Not Available) (Not Available)  
Fuel Wasted, gallons per person (2003) (Not Available) (Not Available)  
INCOME & EMPLOYMENT
Median Household Income (2004) $41,221 23  
Median Household Income (2000) $41,221 15  
Per capita income (2004) $21,374 42  
Per capita Personal Income (2000) $21,374 31  
% of Families Below Poverty Level (2004) 5.6% 2  
% of Individuals Below Poverty Level (1999) 8.4% 4  
% of Individuals Below Poverty Level (2004) 8.4% 3  
% of Households with Public Assistance Income (2000) 2.3% 6  
% of Children Under 18 Years Old Below Poverty Level (1999) 10.3% 4  
People In the Labor Force, Unemployed (2005) 3,553 people 4  
% In the Labor Force: Unemployed (2005) 3.4% 5  
% of the Civilian Labor Force: Unemployed (2005) 4.6% 3  
% In the Labor Force: Unemployed (2000) 2.4% 1  
% of the Civilian Labor Force Unemployed (2000) 3.2% 2  
% Change in the Labor Force Unemployed (2000 to 2005) 29.9% 50  
% Change in the Civilian Labor Force Unemployed (2000 to 2005) 30.4% 52  
State Minimum Wage Laws (2006) Same as Federal ---  
State Minimum Wage Rates (2006) $5.15 per hour 28  
EDUCATION
# of School Age Kids K-12 (ages 5 to 17) 22,166 kids (3.0% of total pop.) 63  
Largest School District Enrollment 19,097 kids (2.6% of total pop.) 64  
% on Free or Reduced Lunch 24.2% 5  
Cumulative Promotion Index (CPI) Graduation Rate 80.3% 3  
Level of Education: % with High School Degree or Higher (2004) 88.5% 10  
Level of Education: % with Bachelor's Degree or Higher (2004) 27.8% 39  
Adult Level 1 Literacy Rate 11% 4  
State School Bus Efficiency (2002) Behind the Curve   ---
State School Bus Soot Pollution Grade D   ---
State School Bus Cleanup Program Rank (2006) Incomplete   ---
State School Bus Smog Pollution Rank (2006) Poor   ---
HOUSING & COST OF LIVING
Occupied Housing Units (2004) 49,731 units 63  
% of Owner Occupied Housing 38.9% 55  
Cost of Living: Housing 67.0 24  
Cost of Living: Utilities 138.8 66  
Cost of Living: Miscellaneous 98.6 26  
Cost of Living: Overall 90.4 29  
CIVIC ENGAGEMENT
Voter Turnout in the Election of November 2004 70.13%   7
State Voter Turnout Rate: 2002 Election 65.20%   12
State Voter Turnout Rate: 2004 Election 63.80%   1
State Volunteering Rate: 2002-2005 Combined 38.4%   5
SAFETY/SECURITY
Total Crime Rate, Incidents per 100,000 people (2004) 3,550.7 incidents per 100,000 people 6  
Violent Crime Rate, Incidents per 100,000 people (2004) 308.9 incidents per 100,000 people 7  
Property Crime Rate, Incidents per 100,000 people (2004) 3,241.8 incidents per 100,000 people 8  
Total Crime Rate, Incidents per 100,000 people (2003) 3,369.0 incidents per 100,000 people 5  
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(1 is best, 5 is worst) (1 is best, 72 is worst)
Detail Information Data City Rank State Rank
5 • PARKS & RECREATION OPPORTUNITIES     (metadata) (score)    4.0***    
Average # of Parks, per square mile (Not Available) (Not Available)  
Average Area Dedicated to Parks, per city square mile (Not Available) (Not Available)  
Park Area per 1000 Residents, acres (Not Available) (Not Available)  
Parkland as % of City Area (Not Available) (Not Available)  
Adjusted Park Spending, per resident (Not Available) (Not Available)  
Total City Tree Canopy % 3.8% 50  
Total City Urbanized Area % 59.7% 41  
Park Programs to Assist Low-Income Park Users (Not Available) ---  
Disability Advisory Committees (Not Available) ---  
Collection of Data on Crime in Parks (Not Available) ---  
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(1 is best, 5 is worst) (1 is best, 72 is worst)
Detail Information Data City Rank State Rank
6 • HUMAN & PUBLIC HEALTH     (metadata) (score) 2.9    
Pediatric Asthma, rate (%) (ALA 2006) 8.63% 70
Adult Asthma, rate (%) (ALA 2006) 7.04% 3
Chronic Bronchitis, rate (%) (ALA 2006) 3.10% 37
Emphysema, rate (%) (ALA 2006) 1.18% 37
Cardiovascular Disease, rate (%) (ALA 2006) 23.97% 36
Diabetes, rate (%) (ALA 2006) 5.03% 37  
% of Adults with Obesity (2001) 20.6% 28
Change in % of Adults with Obesity (1991-2001) 7.8% 17
CDC Obesity Trends U.S. Adults 1992 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System Prevalence Rate (1992) 10%-14% ---
CDC Obesity Trends U.S. Adults 1997 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System Prevalence Rate (1997) 15%-19% ---
CDC Obesity Trends U.S. Adults 2003 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System Prevalence Rate (2003) 20%-24% ---
% of Adults Lacking Healthcare Insurance, ages 18 - 65 (2001) 10.0% 16
Infant Mortality Rate (2002) 6.5% 21
Number of Cancer Deaths per 100,000 people (2002) 182.6 10
Cost of Living: Health 93.8 13  
% of People without Health Insurance Coverage by State (2003-04 Average) 12.0% 18
% of People without Health Insurance Coverage by State (2004-05 Average) 12.1% 17
Rate of Change in People without Health Insurance Coverage, between 2003-2004 and 2004-2005 0.8% 28
Change in People without Health Insurance Coverage, between 2003-2004 and 2004-2005 0.1% 26
Number of small, local, sustainable food sources: Farms 5 farms 49
Number of small, local, sustainable food sources: Farmers' Markets 1 market 69
Number of small, local, sustainable food sources: Restaurants 0 restaurants 37
Number of small, local, sustainable food sources: Groceries 1 grocery store 40
Number of small, local, sustainable food sources: Other 0 other sources 57
Cost of Living: Food 99.8 26
Lung Cancer Deaths/100,000 Men (1999-2003) 85.7% 57
Lung Cancer Deaths/100,000 Women (1999-2003) 37.5% 21
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(1 is best, 5 is worst) (1 is best, 72 is worst)
Detail Information Data City Rank State Rank
7 • GLOBAL WARMING CLIMATE CHANGE     (metadata) (score)    3.5***    
Mini-Kyoto Participant, US Mayors Climate Protection Agreement (as of 10/18/06) No ---
Number of State and Local Net Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reduction Programs 0 programs   32
Net Metering No Net Metering   ---
Net Metering Residential Size Limit 0 kW   41
Net Metering Commercial Size Limit 0 kW   40
Completed Climate Action Plans No State Climate Action Plan   ---
Regional Initiatives Yes   ---
States with Greenhouse Gas Inventories No   ---
States with Greenhouse Gas Reporting & Registries Yes   ---
States with Public Benefit Funds None   ---
States with Renewable Portfolio Standards 0%   20
Date set for Renewable Portfolio Standards (Not Available)   (Not Available)
States with Green Pricing Programs Optional   ---
States with Renewable Energy Credit Tracking Systems Yes   ---
States with Mandates and Incentives Promoting Ethanol Exercises Tax credit/exemption and/or grant supporting ethanol use   ---
States with Residential Energy Codes No Residential Energy Codes   ---
States with Commercial Energy Codes5 No Commercial Energy Codes   ---
Green Building Standards for State Buildings None   ---
ICLEI's Cities for Climate Protection Participant (US CCP) No ---
% of State Generation that is from Renewable sources (2003) 54.4%   4
Average percentage of possible sunshine thru 1998: Length of record (years) 50 years 26
Average percentage of Possible Sunshine: Annual 57% 32
Annual Average wind speed, m.p.h. 11.1 mph 8
January Average wind speed, m.p.h. 10.9 mph 15
July Average wind speed, m.p.h. 9.8 mph 8
Heating Degree Days 7,809 days 57
Cooling Degree Days 744 days 21
Average Relative Humidity (%), Length of record (years) 35 years 39
Annual Morning Average Relative Humidity (%) 82% 40
Annual Afternoon Average Relative Humidity (%) 62% 50
Elevation, feet 1,470 feet 62
 
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(1 is best, 5 is worst) (1 is best, 72 is worst)
Detail Information Data City Rank State Rank
BACKGROUND INFORMATION      
SIZE & CLASSIFICATION
City Population (2005)2 132,358 62 (of 72 in EDN study) 17.7% of state population
City Population (2000) 123,975 63 (of 72 in EDN study)  
State Population (2005)2 746,033 46 (of 51 in EDN study)  
General Region Midwest ---  
EPA Region 8 ---  
PHYSICAL QUALITIES
City Land Area, square miles 56.0 square miles 55 0.1% of state land area
State Land Area, square miles 75,896 square miles 16  
Watershed Name Lower Big Sioux ---  
Elevation, feet 1,470 ft. (447.1 m) 35  
Average Daily Temperature - January 14.0°F (-10.0°C) 70
Average Daily Temperature - July 73.0°F (22.8°C) 18  
DEMOGRAPHIC SUMMARY
Median Age 33.0 years 29  
18 years and older, % of population (2004) 74.8% 30  
65 years and older, % of population (2004) 11.1% 30  
Under 5 years of age 9,072 kids (7.3% of total pop.) 63  
One Race-White % (2005) 90.7% 8  
One Race - Non-white % (2005) 9.3% 65  
Hispanic or Latino, of any race % (2005) 3.9% 59  
% of Population who Speak a non-English Language at Home (2004) 7.4% 62  
Largest School District Name Sioux Falls School District 49-5 ---  
 
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1 Use of the * within the County field indicates the city is in multiple counties. Typically the county for which the city serves as a county seat was selected.
2 Use of the * within the Population Rank Indicates year 2000 data was used since year 2004 data was not available.
3 Scores in parenthesis indicate partial scores, e.g. at least one scored indicator was not available or reported for this city.
4 SITES is an acronym developed by EDN as a summary for the 'Safety, Income, Transportation, Education and Sprawl' Topic.
 
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© 2006 Earth Day Network