The city of Pierre (pronounced, PEER is the capital of the U.S. state of South Dakota and the county seat of Hughes County. The population was 13,876 at the 2000 census, making it the second least populous state capital after Montpelier, Vermont. Founded in 1880 on the Missouri River opposite Fort Pierre, Pierre has been South Dakota's capital since it gained statehood on November 11, 1889, having been chosen for its location in the geographic center of the state. Fort Pierre itself was named after Pierre Chouteau, Jr., an American fur trader of French-Canadian origin. It is also a major statewide transportation hub and is famous for its memorial hall.

Pierre is the principal city of the Pierre Micropolitan Statistical Area, which includes all of Hughes and Stanley counties.

source:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pierre,_South_Dakota