Aberdeen, South Dakota

Aberdeen, South Dakota
File:DSCF0643.JPG
Location in South Dakota
County	Brown County
Government
• Mayor	Mike Levsen
Population  (2005)
• Total	24,658
Time zone	UTC-6 (Central)
• Summer (DST)	UTC-5 (Central)
Website	[1]

Aberdeen, a city and the county seat of Brown County, South Dakota, USA, about 125 mi (200 km) N.E. of Pierre. Settled in 1880, it was incorporated in 1882. The population was 24,658 at the 2000 census.

Geography

Aberdeen is located at 45°27′49″N 98°28′53″W (45.463708, -98.481291)Template:GR.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 33.7 km² (13.0 mi²). 33.6 km² (13.0 mi²) of it is land and 0.2 km² (0.1 mi²) of it (0.54%) is water.

Aberdeen has been assigned the ZIP code range 57401-57402, and the FIPS place code 00100.

Demographics

As of the censusTemplate:GR of 2000, there were 24,658 people, 10,553 households, and 6,184 families residing in the city. The population density was 734.6/km² (1,902.1/mi²). There were 11,259 housing units at an average density of 335.4/km² (868.5/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 94.61% White, 0.37% Black or African American, 3.17% Native American, 0.54% Asian, 0.13% Pacific Islander, 0.19% from other races, and 0.99% from two or more races. 0.79% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 10,553 households out of which 27.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.0% were married couples living together, 8.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 41.4% were non-families. 34.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.21 and the average family size was 2.86.

In the city the population was spread out with 21.8% under the age of 18, 14.1% from 18 to 24, 26.4% from 25 to 44, 20.4% from 45 to 64, and 17.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 89.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.3 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $33,276, and the median income for a family was $43,882. Males had a median income of $30,355 versus $20,092 for females. The per capita income for the city was $17,923. About 7.6% of families and 10.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 10.6% of those under age 18 and 10.1% of those age 65 or over.

This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). Encyclopædia Britannica (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. {{cite encyclopedia}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)

Educating for the Future!

In a city where families and neighbors emphasize the well-being of children, it isn't surprising that quality education is highly valued. Aberdeen families have a public school system and a K-12 private (Catholic) system available for their children. There are also several private, religious-based elementary schools offering regular classes. Montessori programs and a variety of licensed daycare and preschool opportunities are also available.

The curriculum at Aberdeen schools blends traditional areas of study in the sciences and the arts, with additional study opportunities in subjects and topics that specifically prepare students for careers and occupations. The Hub Area Technical School provides technical training for students from both the public and parochial school systems.

Aberdeen schools and teachers are known for their commitment to students and the community. In 1996, Redbook Magazine recognized Aberdeen Central as one of the best high schools in the country. Our teachers have been honored with state and national Presidential Awards for Excellence. Twice during the 1990s Aberdeen teachers won the South Dakota Teacher of the Year Award, and in 1998 a high school science teacher was a finalist for the Walt Disney American Teacher Award. In 1999, a junior high principal received the National Distinguished Principal Award. Three teachers from the Aberdeen Catholic School System also have earned national Presidential Awards in math and science. Student achievement from both the public system and the Aberdeen Catholic School System is high and academic involvement is impressive. In fact, nearly 90% of ACSS students pursue college or other forms of higher education. Extracurricular activities such as athletics, music, theatre and debate add to the students' overall education. Reflecting the positive and cooperative relationship between parents, teachers and schools is the exceptional participation rate in local PTA (Parent Teacher Association) chapters.

Aberdeen Central High School has an enrollment of 1,200 students, grades 9-12. The school was founded in 1911 near downtown Aberdeen, and served as the home of the Golden Eagles for nearly 90 years. In the fall of 2004, Aberdeen Central students were welcomed into a new $28 million facility in South East Aberdeen. The school has numerous improvements over the previous school featuring air conditioning, handicap accessibility, and a state of the art gymnasium.including a large Daktronics replay board.

The Aberdeen Central High School Complex is also home to the Clark Swisher Athletic Complex. This athletic complex features a FieldTurf football/soccer field, an eight lane all-weather track, and an on-site locker room.

In the area of special education, progressive programs for students with special needs have been incorporated into the curriculums of all schools. Aberdeen is home to South Dakota's School for the Blind and the Visually Impaired, with its comfortable campus, dorm facilities, and highly trained faculty.

The Aberdeen Public School system consists of: High School: Aberdeen Central High School (1911) Middle School: Simmons Middle School (1928), Holgate Middle School (1972) Elementary School: C.C. Lee Elementary (1973), Lincoln Elementary, May Overby Elementary (1958),O. M. Tiffany Elementary (1941), Simmons Elementary (1955).

The Roncalli Catholic School System consists of: High School: Roncalli Junior/Senior High School (1964; grades 7-12) Middle School: Roncalli Elementary School (2005; grades 3-6) Elementary School: Roncalli Primary School (2003; preschool-grade 2)

Higher Education in Aberdeen

Northern State University

Today's Northern State University is a twenty-first century institution, serving the state of South Dakota, the nation and the world with programs that are supported and supplemented with technology for the globalization age.

NSU has its roots in innovative and dedicated educational delivery and services. Founded in 1901 as a normal and industrial school to serve the northern part of South Dakota, Northern State University, today, is a multi-purpose, regional institution offering diversified course offerings to meet the emerging needs of the students, community and region. In 2001, Northern expanded its mission to include E-learning programs, offering certificates, a minor and two master's degrees in technological instruction.

While teacher preparation remains an important feature of Northern State University, so are programs in the arts and sciences, business and fine arts. Cited recently by U.S. News & World Report as the number one institution in the entire Midwest with the most education majors, Northern also provides excellent course offerings in business, arts and sciences and fine arts. Academically, Northern provides a variety of more than 40 major course offerings from which to earn either a bachelor of arts, bachelor of science, bachelor of science in education or bachelor of music education degree. Graduate programs are offered in teaching and learning, guidance and counseling, and leadership and administration, in addition to E-learning.

NSU's enrollment holds steady at 3,000-plus students each year. Students come from South Dakota, North Dakota and Minnesota, but the student body also represents students from more than 25 states and more than 20 foreign countries. More than 85 percent of the NSU faculty have attained the highest degree in their fields of study; the student-to-faculty ratio is 19-to-1. Northern also has one of the best student-to-computer ratios in the nation at 4.1 to 1.

Presentation College Founded in 1951 as a two-year nursing school, Presentation College has broadened its curriculum and is South Dakota's newest four-year college. Presentation is ambitiously expanding its faculty, student opportunities and its facilities. New student housing has been built, and an indoor athletic complex was recently added to accommodate the PC Saints sporting events. The Saints compete in the Upper Midwest Athletic Conference. Sponsored by the Presentation Sisters, the College continues to be a leader in healthcare education, but now offers degrees in over thirty fields. In addition to baccalaureate degrees in nursing, the college offers degrees in business, communications, social work, and many areas of allied health.

Healthcare

Aberdeen has become a regional healthcare provider, featuring caring, skilled and experienced professionals who use the latest healthcare technologies. At the center of these services are an expansive specialty medical center, Orthopedic Surgery Specialists, and a leading hospital in the state, Avera St. Luke's Hospital.

Since its establishment in 1901, Avera St. Luke's has evolved into a respected institution serving about 7,000 inpatients and over 140,000 outpatients each year. The hospital employs nearly 1,300 people in its three divisions, and has 90 local physicians on staff representing 34 specialties.

Aberdeen also boasts a full complement of medical and health professionals, including optometrists, orthodontists, dentists, chiropractors, an alternative medical clinic, psychologists, addiction counselors, and a wide array of therapists serving all ages. Nursing homes, assisted living facilities and specialty apartments meet the needs of the elderly.

Some of the important medical services Aberdeen offers the region include emergency helicopter transport, 24-hour emergency room physician care, neurosurgery, a full range of rehabilitation therapies, an angiography/cardiac catheterization lab, and a pain management center.

Other

• ABR Aberdeen Regional Airport

Popular Attractions

• Wylie Park With over 200 acres of grassland, the park features a zoo with a spectacular variety of wildlife. Picnic and reacreation areas, pavilion, concession stands, campground, and swimming area also available.
• Storybook Land Just over the rainbow is where you'll find Aberdeen's magical theme park - Storybook Land! Dorothy, Toto, The Scarecrow, Tin Man and Cowardly Lion will all greet you as you begin your journey down the Yellow Brick Road. Enter a land of enchantment that includes over 60 larger than life exhibits. Climb aboard Captain Hook's ship, visit the animals at Old McDonald's Farm, but whatever you do, don't get lost in the maze! A ride around the park on the Storybook Land Express is always a hit.
• Brown County Fair Every year in August, vendors from around the country travel to Aberdeen to participate in a county fair that includes big name grandstand entertainment, car races, demolition derby, rodeo, carnival midway, 4-H exhibits, and other assorted live entertainment and displays.
• Kuhnert Arboretum
• Dacotah Prairie Museum Dedicated to telling the story of this land and of the people who have lived on it, this museum contains a large section of historical items including Indian artifacts, centennial quilts, period settings, toys for all ages and much more.
• Thunder Road

Notable Residents

• L. Frank Baum, famous for his book The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, made Aberdeen his home.
• John Cacavas, famous Hollywood composer, was born here.
• Fakir Musafar, key figure in the modern primitive movement, was born here.
• David C. Jones, U.S. Air Force general, was born here.
• Joseph Hansen (writer), American mystery writer, was born here.
• Tom Daschle, former US Senator and Senate Majority Leader, was born here.
• Terry Francona, current Boston Red Sox manager, was born here.

External links

• Aberdeen Chamber of Commerce
• Aberdeen government website
• A-List Magazine - Local magazine
• Aberdeen News - Local newspaper
• Aberdeen Central High School website
• AListAberdeen.com - Aberdeen's Guide to Who and Where