The capital of South Dakota is Pierre. It is the seat of Hughes County and is located on the eastern bank of the Missouri River, in the geographic center of the state. Pierre was founded in 1880 and was designated as the state capital when South Dakota gained statehood on November 2, 1889. The population of Pierre was 14,091 at the 2020 census, making it the second least populous US state capital after Montpelier, Vermont. The South Dakota State Capitol is located in Pierre and was dedicated in 1910. Other attractions in Pierre include the South Dakota Discovery Center and Aquarium and the South Dakota National Guard Museum.