The Underrated Sioux Falls Leader Who Helped Shape a Growing City
If you’ve ever wondered who helped steer Sioux Falls through its early growing pains, meet George Burnside — a man who didn’t chase the spotlight but left a legacy all over the city.
Born in 1858 in New York, George moved with his family to Iowa, where they farmed and lived the classic prairie life. In 1881, just before heading to Dakota Territory, he married Anna Reed, beginning a partnership that would follow him through decades of public service.
George wasn’t a product of elite schools. His education came from a few terms in rural classrooms and a short stay at business college. But what he lacked in formal schooling, he made up for in grit. After arriving in Sioux Falls, he ran a livery business and worked as an undertaker, two jobs that kept him closely connected to the community.
Those connections paid off. George became Chief of Police, and while working in the transfer business, he got to know Sioux Falls block by block. He understood what the city needed because he lived it every day. That practical insight made him a natural fit for public office.
In 1899, voters elected him alderman, a role he held for eleven years. Then came the big job: mayor of Sioux Falls. He first served in 1900, stayed for six years, stepped away, and then returned in 1909 for another strong term. Seven terms total — a clear sign the community trusted him.
During his leadership, Sioux Falls was transforming from a village into a true city. Burnside pushed for major civic improvements, including:
The Carnegie Library
A municipal water plant
Early groundwork for a paid fire department
Expanding fire services to both sides of the Big Sioux River
Street paving and infrastructure upgrades
Laying the foundation for what would eventually become the Great Plains Zoo
Back then, Sioux Falls had a population of around 25,000, and it was buzzing with growth. Burnside didn’t brag about his contributions — he simply did the work. His dedication to the city was steady, practical, and deeply rooted in his love for the community.
George and Anna raised three children, and after a lifetime of service, George Burnside passed away in 1935. Today, he rests at Woodlawn Cemetery, but his impact is still woven into the city he helped shape. You can drive down a road with his name on it or walk through a park named for him and contemplate all the changes he must have been a part of when presiding as Mayor of Sioux Falls for 26 years of his life!