Welcome to CTU Sioux Falls
The Gateway to the Plains and the Future.
For thousands of years, the breath-taking natural wonders of Sioux Falls have attracted those seeking adventure, fortune and self-fulfillment. Named for the Sioux Indians who called the falls "minne Waukon," meaning "sacred water," the city is nicknamed the "Gateway to the Plains."
It was founded in the mid-1850s by two groups of land speculators seeking to invest in desirable land before an anticipated influx of settlers. In 1862, the town had to be abandoned due to the Dakota Indian War. Eventually peace was restored, and the coming of the railroad brought great economic growth. Although Sioux Falls went through some troubled times in the 1890s, prosperity returned to the city when an air force base, meat packing plants and corporations like Citibank and Wells Fargo located here.
In recent years, Sioux Falls has been praised by several national publications for its "liveability" and healthy economy. Ladies' Home Journal recently rated it third (out of 200) in its list of "least stressed cities." And in 2003 and 2004, Forbes ranked it as the Best Small City out of a field of 168.
The city's varied amenities do indeed make it an interesting and entertaining place to study, take classes, live and work. Recreational activities such as swimming, softball, ice-skating and skiing are easily accessible. Educational and cultural venues include several colleges in addition to Colorado Technical University, the Washington Pavilion of Arts and Sciences, the Great Plains Zoo, and numerous theatres, galleries, museums and restaurants.
With all of these attractions and amenities, Sioux Falls is indeed a gateway to opportunity and a better life.