Siouxland

Siouxland is a vernacular region that encompasses the entire Big Sioux River drainage basin in the U.S. states of South Dakota, Minnesota, Nebraska and Iowa.

A "vernacular region" is a distinctive area where the inhabitants collectively consider themselves interconnected by a shared history, mutual interests, and a common identity.

Frederick Manfred, who grew up in this region, set his novels in Minnesota, South Dakota, Iowa, and Nebraska, but these names alone did not meet his needs.

He wheeled over the oak-crested, doming hills north of Sioux City, flew up the Big Sioux River, resting in elms and basswoods.... Time magazine, reviewing the novel on 31 March 1947, introduced Siouxland to its readers by quoting from the book: "By a river in the Siouxland he stood weeping.

"[1][3] By the summer of 1948, Alex Stoddard, sports editor of the Sioux City Journal, had begun referring to "Siouxland teams.

Manfred drew a map of Siouxland for the cover of This Is the Year;[2] his version encompassed the lower Big Sioux River drainage basin.

This region (which includes adjacent areas in the southwest corner of Minnesota) is part of Manfred's original conception of Siouxland.

Map of Siouxland from the endpapers of the novel "This Is the Year" by Feike Feikema (Frederick Manfred), who defined "this area where state lines have not been important" and coined the name in 1946
Map of Siouxland from the novel "This Is the Year" by Feike Feikema (Frederick Manfred), who defined "this area where state lines have not been important" and coined the name in 1946