YANKTON

city, seat (1862) of Yankton county, southeastern South Dakota, U.S. The city lies along the Missouri River near its confluence with the James River. Yankton is just east of Gavins Point Dam and National Fish Hatchery and Lewis and Clark Lake. Settled in 1858 and named for the Yankton Indians, it served as the first capital of Dakota Territory (186183). The old Territorial Legislative Building now houses a museum. After the arrival of the Dakota Southern Railway in 1872, it became a river port and an outfitting point for gold prospectors. It is the seat of Mount Marty College (1936). The city's primary industries are based on processing the agricultural products of the surrounding area. Inc. 1869. Pop. (1992 est.) 13,207. a major division of the Sioux (q.v.), or Dakota, confederation of American Indians.