According to the 2000 census, there were 123,975 people, 49,731 households, and 30,783 families residing in the city. Currently, the city is home to 144,900 persons with 66,778 households, and 44,242 families. The population density is 2,201.4 people per square mile (849.9/km²). There are 51,680 housing units at an average density of 917.7/sq mi (354.3/km²).
Of the 49,731 households, 32.1% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.4% are married couples living together, 10.0% have a female householder with no husband present, and 38.1% are non-families. 29.8% of all households are made up of individuals and 8.9% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.40 and the average family size is 3.00.
The 2006 American Community Survey's estimates of the racial makeup of the city is 88.9% White, 2.6% African American, 2.2% Native American, 1.3% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 3.0% from other races, and 2.0% from two or more races. 4.1% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race. In the city the population is spread out with 25.2% under the age of 18, 11.8% from 18 to 24, 32.4% from 25 to 44, 19.6% from 45 to 64, and 11.1% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 33 years. For every 100 females there are 97.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 94.4 males.
The median income for a household in 1999 in the city is $41,221; in 2003 HUD reported Minnehaha County had a median household income of $45,872, while Lincoln County had a median household income of $59,571. The median income for a family was $51,516 in 1999; in 2005 HUD reported that amount as $56,150. Males have a median income of $32,216 versus $24,861 for females. The per capita income for the city is $21,374. 8.4% of the population and 5.6% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 10.3% of those under the age of 18 and 7.4% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Sioux Falls, one of the two dioceses in the state, has its cathedral on Duluth Avenue. St. Joseph Cathedral is the largest church in South Dakota and one of the largest cathedrals in the United States. Sioux Falls is also the seat of the Episcopal Diocese of South Dakota. The Episcopal Calvary Cathedral is the mother church for South Dakota Episcopalians.
Sioux Falls also currently is home to a small but growing Muslim Community of about 1,100. Sioux Falls currently has an Islamic Center.
Most residents of Sioux Falls travel and commute by car. Interstate 90 passes east to west across the northern edge of the city, while Interstate 29 bisects the western portion of the city from the north and south. Interstate 229 forms a partial loop around Sioux Falls, and connects with Interstate 90 to the northeast and Interstate 29 to the southwest. A grid design system for city streets is the standard for the central (older) area of the city, while newer residential areas have largely abandoned this plan. Due to current and expected regional growth, several large construction projects have been or will be undertaken. New interchanges have recently been added to Interstate 29. An interchange is also planned on I-90 at Marion Road. I-29 has recently been improved from I-90 to the 26th Street exit. This upgrade includes additional lanes and auxiliary lanes.
Over the next decade, the city of Sioux Falls and the South Dakota Department of Transportation plan to construct a limited-access highway around the outer edges of the city to the south and east known as South Dakota Highway 100. This highway will start at the northern Tea exit (Exit 73 on I-29) and will travel east, and curve northeast east of Western Avenue, then turns northerly near Sycamore Avenue. The highway will end at the Timberline Avenue exit (Exit 402 on I-90).
Major north/south roads in Sioux Falls include: Ellis Road, Sertoma Avenue, Marion Road, I-29, Louise Avenue, Kiwanis Avenue, Western Avenue, Minnesota Avenue (South Dakota Highway 115, south of Benson Road), Cliff Avenue (South Dakota Highway 115, north of Benson Road), Bahnson Avenue, Sycamore Avenue, Powder House Road/South Dakota Highway 11, and Six Mile Road.
Major west/east roads include: I-90, 60th Street North (South Dakota Highway 38, west of I-29), Benson Road (South Dakota Highway 115 between Minnesota Avenue and Cliff Avenue), Russell Street/Maple Street, Madison St./Rice St. 10th/11th/12th Street/Arrowhead Parkway (South Dakota Highway 42), 26th Street, 33rd Street, 41st Street, 49th Street, 57th Street, 69th Street, and 85th Street.
Sioux Falls Transit, the local public transit organization, operates 16 bus lines within the city. Recently, the city added new park-and-ride stations. The Sioux Falls Paratransit serves members of the community who would otherwise not be able the travel by providing door to door service.
Sioux Falls also has several taxi companies that operate within the city.
Jefferson Lines runs long-distance bus routes to Sioux Falls. Non-Transfer destinations include Winnipeg, Kansas City, Minneapolis, and Omaha. There is no Amtrak passenger train service that passes through South Dakota.
Several domestic airlines serve Sioux Falls Regional Airport, also known as Joe Foss Field (in honor of famed aviator and former Governor Joe Foss), offering non-stop flight service to a number of major U.S. airport hubs, including Chicago O'Hare, Denver International Airport, Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport, Cincinnati-Northern Kentucky International Airport, Orlando Sanford International Airport, Las Vegas' McCarran International Airport, and Phoenix's Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport. Beginning May 2, 2009, Northwest Airlines(now a subsidiary of Delta Airlines) begins non-stop service to Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport. On May 23, 2009, Allegiant Airlines will begin twice weekly non-stop flights to Los Angeles International Airport. This will be the fourth destination offered by the low cost airline to the residents of Sioux Falls. On June 4, 2009, Delta will end air service to Cincinnati, but will re-introduce non-stop service to Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport and to Salt Lake City International Airport.