The Human Services Center was established as a psychiatric hospital in 1882 and is on the National Register of Historic Places.

The city is located approximately six miles west of the point where the James River flows into the Missouri.

[14] Yankton has a humid continental climate (Köppen Dfa), with cold winters and hot summers.

With two days left in his term, President James Buchanan signed a law on March 2, 1861, creating the Dakota Territory.

[24] In response to the Dakota War of 1862 in western Minnesota, Governor Jayne issued a proclamation on August 30, 1862, requiring every male between the ages of 18 and 50 in every settlement in eastern Dakota, be formed into militias to protect against expected attacks from the Native Americans.

[25] In response, the Yankton militia built a stockade at the corner of Third Street and Broadway Avenue of approximately 200,000 square feet.

Settlers from the surrounding area, and as far away as Sioux Falls and Bon Homme County, fled to Yankton to seek shelter in the structure.

Although roving bands of Native Americans did approach Yankton over the course of several weeks, no attack ensued, and the stockade was eventually abandoned and torn down.

[27] Due to the urging of the Reverend Joseph Ward of Yankton, the General Association of Congregational Churches in Dakota Territory voted in May 1881 to establish "Pilgrim College" in Yankton, which was to be the first private institution of higher learning in Dakota.

Classes commenced in October 1882, and Yankton College played a prominent role in the city for over 100 years.

[29] The first steamboat to reach Yankton from St. Louis arrived in 1859, providing goods and supplies to settlers and fur-traders in upper and central Dakota.

As a result of this flood, and the expansion of railroads as a preferred method of shipping goods, Yankton's river boat traffic was reduced, and the city's role as a prominent stopping point on the way west dwindled over the next several years.

[34] Francis Marion Ziebach established the second newspaper in the area that became South Dakota, the Weekly Dakotan, in Yankton on June 6, 1861, bringing his outfit from Sioux Falls by team and wagon.

[35] A second newspaper, started by Francis Marion Ziebach, is still published today as the Yankton Press and Dakotan.

The City Commission is responsible for legislative functions such as establishing policy, passing local ordinances, and voting appropriations.

Yankton is home to Mount Marty University, a private Benedictine Catholic institution of higher learning.

Four miles west of Yankton, Lewis and Clark Lake attracts over 1.5 million visitors per year.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers also maintains public recreation areas along the Missouri River just downstream of Gavins Point Dam.

South Dakota Highway 52 connects the city to the Lewis and Clark Lake area, about four miles to the west.

[51] KUSD-TV, the flagship station of South Dakota Public Broadcasting, is based in nearby Vermillion.

[citation needed] Yankton is also home to South Dakota Magazine, a statewide bi-monthly publication that explores the history, culture, arts, travel and outdoors of the state.

[citation needed] Mount Marty University offers several cultural assets and venues in Yankton, including the Bede Art Gallery, which showcases artwork from regional and Native American artists, as well as Marian Auditorium, which hosts performing and fine art events.

Previous authors include former United States poet laureate Ted Kooser, American Book Award winner Maria Mazziotti Gillan, Elizabeth Cook-Lynn, David Lee, and William Kloefkorn, among others.

The museum's collection includes artifacts of Dakota Territory, Native American inhabitants, and early pioneers.

The museum complex also contains several outbuildings, such as a restored rural school house and the Great Northern Railway Depot which will be moved to the new location at 82 Mickelson Drive in the latter part of 2019.

The primarily free event attracts 135,000 people and hosts over 150 artists and over 50 food vendors at Riverside Park.

Other activities include a rodeo, parade, golf tournament, and snowmobile grass drag race.

[54] The National Field Archery Association, NFAA, moved its headquarters from Redland, California to Yankton, South Dakota.