Pierre (/pɪər/ PEER) is the capital city of the U.S. state of South Dakota and the seat of Hughes County.

It was designated as the state capital when South Dakota gained statehood on November 2, 1889.

Fort Pierre had developed earlier, with a permanent settlement since c. 1817 around a fur trading post.

It increased access to markets for regional products and improved transportation for passengers.

The capital city became relatively isolated in the post-World War II era of federally subsidized highway construction, as travelers and freight companies began to use automobiles and trucking.

Developed for flood control and irrigation, the lake has become a popular fishing destination.

Pierre has a relatively dry, four-season, humid continental climate (Köppen: Dfa, Trewartha: Dcao),[9] with long, dry, cold winters, hot summers, and brief spring and autumnal transitions; like much of the southern half of the state, it lies in USDA Plant Hardiness zone 5.

[10] According to weather maps and their data, Pierre can be considered a cool semi-arid climate (Köppen: BSk) aided by its precipitation near the threshold[11] that reaches even northeast of the city in South Dakota.

[14] Snow primarily falls in light amounts, with the snowiest months being February and March, while the average seasonal total is 37.2 inches (0.94 m).

[14] In addition, there are an average 20.9 nights per year with lows below 0 °F (−17.8 °C),[14] and cold conditions are often intensified by the Great Plains' high winds.

[17] Precipitation is much lighter in the winter than in late spring and summer, and totals about 20 inches (508 mm) annually.

35.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

31.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

It received the most votes, beating New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, and Boston.

[25][26] The outcome may have been influenced by the image that accompanied the name of the city in the balloting: the well-known Mount Rushmore, which is 150 miles west of Pierre, in Keystone and the Black Hills section of the state.