Land speculation was a mania in the nineteenth century, it was an easy way to make money and town site development provided great opportunity for obtaining this wealth. It was the Falls of the Big Sioux River which made this a prime town site. Two groups of speculators The Dakota Land Co. and Western Town Co. made claims around the Falls, below is a map of the layout prior to the abandonment of the town in 1862 when an Indian uprisings forced settlers to leave.
This map was scanned from Sioux Falls South Dakota A Pictorial History
Below is a picture of Fort Dakota Circa 1866
This photo was scanned from Sioux Falls South Dakota A Pictorial History
Two years after the abandonment visitors found most of the buildings burned and streets and trails overgrown. The townsite developers persuaded the federal government to establish a fort in the area, hoping that it would provide a sense of security and encourage settlers to return.
Below on left is the officers quarters and on the right the commissary at Fort Dakota Circa 1866
This photo was scanned from Sioux Falls South Dakota A Pictorial History
Native American Presence
This photo was scanned from Sioux Falls South Dakota A Pictorial History
After 1870 there were no longer Indian scares in Sioux Falls, bands of Indians continued to live near and travel to the town for several years. This photo was reportedly taken outside Sioux Falls in 1872.