Pierre, SD

Pierre is the capital of South Dakota and, with a population of less than 14,000, is one of the least populous capitals in the United States

After South Dakota became a U.S. state in 1889, Pierre was named its capital after some opposition from some state residents, who thought the town of Mitchell would be better suited for it.

In 1952, a Missouri River flood nearly destroyed Pierre, prompting the construction of the Oahe Dam nearby. The dam generates more than 2 million kilowatts of electricity a year, and is one of the largest in the world. The dam led to the creation of Lake Oahe, which is a popular fishing destination.

Despite being a rather quiet tourist town, Pierre had the country's highest suicide rate in the 1990s.