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Wikipedia / Sioux City, Iowa

Sioux City ( ) is a city in Woodbury and Plymouth counties in the U.S. state of Iowa. The population was 85,797 at the 2020 census, and was estimated at 86,875 in 2024, making it the fourth-most populous city in Iowa. The county seat of Woodbury County, Sioux City is the primary city of the five-county Sioux City metropolitan area, which had 144,334 residents on the 2020 census. Sioux City and the surrounding areas of northwestern Iowa, northeastern Nebraska and southeastern South Dakota are sometimes referred to collectively as Siouxland.

Sioux City is located at the navigational head of the Missouri River. The city is home to several cultural points of interest including the Sioux City Public Museum, Sioux City Art Center and Sergeant Floyd Monument, which is a National Historic Landmark. The city is also home to Chris Larsen Park, commonly referred to as "the Riverfront", which includes the Anderson Dance Pavilion, Sergeant Floyd River Museum & Welcome Center and Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center.

History

Iowa is in the tallgrass prairie of the North American Great Plains, historically inhabited by speakers of Siouan languages. The area of Sioux City was inhabited by Yankton Sioux when it was first reached by Spanish and French furtrappers in the 18th century. The first documented US citizens to record their travels through this area were Meriwether Lewis and William Clark during the summer of 1804. Sergeant Charles Floyd, a member of the Lewis and Clark Expedition, died here on August 20, 1804, the only death during the two and a half-year expedition.

Sioux City was laid out in the winter of 1854–1855. It became a major transportation hub to the western Plains, including Mormons heading to Salt Lake City and speculators heading to Wyoming goldfields.

In 1891, the Sioux City Elevated Railway was opened and became the third steam-powered elevated rapid transit system in the world, and later the first electric-powered elevated railway in the world after conversion in 1892. However, the system fell into bankruptcy and closed within a decade.

The city gained the nickname "Little Chicago" during the Prohibition era due to its reputation for being a purveyor of alcoholic beverages.

On July 19, 1989, United Airlines Flight 232 crash-landed at Sioux Gateway Airport. 112 people on board the aircraft were killed, but 184 survived the crash and ensuing fire due to outstandingly quick performances by fire and emergency local teams.

According to a 2015 University of Iowa study for the Iowa Initiative for Sustainable Communities, blight and disinvestment are serious problems in the downtown core as investment has shifted to suburbs.

Geography

Sioux City borders two states, South Dakota to the northwest and Nebraska to the southwest.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , of which is land and (1.93%) is water.

City neighborhoods

Climate

As is typical of Iowa, Sioux City has a humid continental climate, with very warm, humid summers, cold, dry winters, and wide temperature extremes; it is part of USDA Hardiness zone 5a. The normal monthly mean temperature ranges from in January to in July. On average, there are 25 days that reach or higher, 52 days that do not climb above freezing, and 17 days with a low of or below annually. The average window for freezing temperatures is October 1 through April 26, allowing a growing season of 157 days. Extreme temperatures officially range from on January 12, 1912 up to on July 4, 1936 and July 17, 1936, as well as July 11, 1939; the record cold daily maximum is on February 8, 1899, while, conversely, the record warm daily minimum is on August 18, 1936. On 14 May 2013, the high temperature reached , setting a new all-time May record high, along with a rise from the morning of the 12th, just two weeks after the city’s first measurable snowfall ( on May 1) recorded in the month of May.

Precipitation is greatest in May and June and averages annually but has ranged from in 1976 to in 1903. Snowfall averages per season, and has historically ranged from in 1895–1896 to in 1961–1962; the average window for measurable (≥) snowfall is November 8 through April 7, although snow in October occurs several times per decade.

Demographics

According to realtor website Zillow, the average price of a home as of October 31, 2025, in Sioux City is $193,736.

As of the 2024 American Community Survey, there are 32,711 estimated households in Sioux City with an average of 2.59 persons per household. The city has a median household income of $74,972. Approximately 15.7% of the city's population lives at or below the poverty line. Sioux City has an estimated 65.6% employment rate, with 25.8% of the population holding a bachelor's degree or higher and 85.5% holding a high school diploma. There were 34,965 housing units at an average density of .

Racial and ethnic composition

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, Sioux City had a population of 85,797, with 32,170 households and 20,217 families. The population density was . The median age was 34.7 years. 26.2% of residents were under the age of 18 and 14.7% were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 98.6 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 96.8 males age 18 and over.

97.1% of residents lived in urban areas, while 2.9% lived in rural areas.

There were 32,170 households, of which 33.0% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 41.4% were married-couple households, 21.2% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 28.9% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 30.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

There were 34,331 housing units at an average density of , of which 6.3% were vacant. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.3% and the rental vacancy rate was 7.5%.The city has significant minority populations of West Africans, Somalis, Ethiopians, Vietnamese, Mexicans, and Guatemalans. This has been attributed to the many meat factories and manufacturing jobs in the area.

2010 census

As of the 2010 census, there were 82,684 people, 31,571 households, and 20,144 families residing in the city. The population density was . There were 33,425 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the city was 80.60% White, 2.87% African American, 2.58% Native American, 2.73% Asian, 0.12% Pacific Islander, 7.38% from some other races and 3.72% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 16.45% of the population.

There were 31,571 households, of which 34.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.2% were married couples living together, 13.8% had a female householder with no husband present, 5.9% had a male householder with no wife present, and 36.2% were non-families. 29.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.54 and the average family size was 3.14.

The median age in the city was 33.7 years. 26.6% of residents were under the age of 18; 11.4% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 25.6% were from 25 to 44; 24% were from 45 to 64, and 12.4% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 49.2% male and 50.8% female.

2000 census

As of the 2000 census, there were 85,013 people, 32,054 households, and 21,091 families residing in the city. The population density was . There were 33,816 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the city was 85.23% White, 2.41% African American, 1.95% Native American, 2.82% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 5.27% from some other races and 2.28% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 10.89% of the population.

There were 32,054 households, of which 33.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.1% were married couples living together, 12.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.2% were non-families. 27.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.57 and the average family size was 3.14.

Age spread: 27.1% under the age of 18, 11.0% from 18 to 24, 28.5% from 25 to 44, 20.2% from 45 to 64, and 13.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females, there were 95.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.2 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $37,429, and the median income for a family was $45,751. Males had a median income of $31,385 versus $22,470 for females. The per capita income for the city was $18,666. About 7.9% of families and 11.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.0% of those under age 18 and 7.8% of those age 65 or over.

Metropolitan area

As of the 2020 census, the Sioux City metropolitan area had 144,334 residents in four counties. As defined by the Office of Management and Budget, the counties comprising the metropolitan area are (in descending order of population):

Crime

Sioux City has a crime rate that is 91% higher than the average for Iowa and 63% higher than the national average. The violent crime rate is 90% above the Iowa average and 49% higher than the national average, based on the FBI's uniform crime reports for 2020. According to the report, this represented a 12% decrease over the prior year.

Economy

Top employers

Statistics from Sioux City's 2020 Annual Comprehensive Financial Report

Arts and culture

  • The Sioux City Public Museum was originally located in a Northside neighborhood of fine Victorian mansions. The portico-and-gabled stone building was originally the home of the banker, John Peirce, and was built in 1890. The museum was recently relocated to downtown Sioux City, where it features Native American, pioneer, early Sioux City, and natural history exhibits.

  • The Sioux City Art Center, located Downtown, was formed in 1938 as part of the WPA's support of the arts. The Art Center supports artists from Iowa and the greater Midwest. Also, the Center has a general program of acquisition of work by national and international artists, including important works by Thomas Hart Benton, Salvador Dalí, Käthe Kollwitz, Robert Motherwell, Claes Oldenburg, James Abbott McNeill Whistler, and Grant Wood.

  • The Sergeant Floyd Monument commemorates the burial site of U.S. Army Sergeant Charles Floyd, the only man to die on the Lewis and Clark Expedition. It is a National Historic Landmark, with its prominent obelisk situated on of parkland, high on a river bluff with a view of the Missouri River valley.

  • Chris Larsen Park, informally known as "The Riverfront," includes the Anderson Dance Pavilion, the Sergeant Floyd Riverboat Museum and the Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center, opened in 2004. Missouri River development began in 2005 with the opening of the MLR Tyme Marina area, which included Bev's on the River, an upscale restaurant, that has now become a Crave.

  • The Sioux City Symphony Orchestra (SCSO) was founded in 1915. The orchestra continues offering seven concerts within its annual season. Performances take place in the Orpheum Theatre in Sioux City, Iowa. Concert dates run from September to April each year. The SCSO has included several movie scores, with film, on its concert schedule. The SCSO's education programming reaches 9,000 to 12,000 young people via the partnership with Carnegie Hall's Link Up program with 100 orchestras in the country, programs for SCSO musicians to perform and teach music lessons in the schools, and performances in nursing homes, hospitals, and elsewhere.

  • Milwaukee Railroad Shop is a facility that is being renovated by the Siouxland Historical Railroad Association. It includes a 4-6-2 Pacific type steam locomotive, the Great Northern 1355, a model railroad exhibit, as well as multiple buildings including the roundhouse that are open to the public.

  • Grandview Park is located north of the downtown area, up from Rose Hill, between The Northside and The Heights. The Municipal Bandshell is located in the park with Sunday evening municipal band concerts. The Saturday in the Park music festival began in 1991 and is held there annually on a weekend close to the Fourth of July holiday. Behind the bandshell is a rose garden with an arbor and trellises which has been a site for outdoor weddings, prom and other special occasion photographs, and for children to play during the Sunday evening band concerts and other events. Downtown is also home to the historic Orpheum Theatre. In 1927 when it was built, it was the largest theater in Iowa.

  • Theatre is produced in Sioux City by two main entities, the Sioux City Community Theatre (SCCT), and LAMB Arts Regional Theatre. Each of these produce a full season of shows each year.

Sports

Parks and recreation

  • Stone State Park is in the northwest corner of the city, overlooking the South Dakota/Iowa border. Stone Park is near the northernmost extent of the Loess Hills, and is at the transition from clay bluffs and prairie to sedimentary rock hills and bur oak forest along the Iowa side of the Big Sioux River. The park is used by picnickers, day hikers, and for mountain biking.

  • Dorothy Pecaut Nature Center is a destination nature preserve for Woodbury County, and is located within the boundaries of Stone State Park. The butterfly garden is unique to the area; wild turkeys and white-tail deer are commonly sighted from the well-marked trails.

  • Downtown entertainment venues include the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, the 10,000-seat Tyson Events Center/ Fleet Farm Arena, Sioux City Orpheum Theatre, Promenade Cinema 14 and the Anderson Dance Pavilion which overlooks the Missouri River.

  • Pulaski Park is named for the Polish General Kazimierz Pułaski, who fought in the American Revolution. This park features baseball diamond facilities, and is located in western Morningside along old U.S. Highway 75 (South Lewis Blvd.). It is largely built on the filled lakebed of Half Moon Lake, which was originally created in the 1890s by the excavation of fill dirt to build the approaches for the iron railroad bridge spanning the Missouri near the stockyards.

  • Latham Park is located in a residential area of Morningside, and is It was left in trust in 1937 under the terms of Clara Latham's will; her family had built the house on of ground in 1915. The house and grounds are currently being restored by the Friends of Latham Park.

  • First Bride's Grave is tucked in a corner pocket of South Ravine Park, lies a series of paths, trails, and steps leading to the grave of the First Bride of Sioux City, Rosalie Menard. She was the first bride of a non-Native American to be wed in Sioux City, Iowa, thus receiving her title.

  • War Eagle Park is named for the Yankton Sioux chief Wambdi Okicize () who befriended early settlers. A monument overlooks the confluence of the Big Sioux and Missouri Rivers. The sculpture represents the chief in his role as a leader and peacemaker, wearing the eagle feather bonnet and holding the ceremonial pipe.

  • Riverside Park is located on the banks of the Big Sioux River. One of the oldest recreational areas of the city, it is home to the Sioux City Boat Club and Sioux City Community Theater. The park is on land that once belonged to the first white settler in the area, Théophile Bruguier; his original cabin is preserved in the park.

  • Bacon Creek Park is located northeast of Morningside and features a scenic walking trail, dog park, picnic shelters, and playground equipment.

Golf courses, city parks, and aquatics: Sioux City is also home to several municipal public golf courses, including Floyd Park in Morningside, Green Valley near the Southern Hills, Sun Valley on the northern West Side, and Hidden Acres in nearby Plymouth County. Sioux City also has a number of private golf clubs, including Sioux City Country Club, and Whispering Creek Golf Club. The city has over of public parkland located at 53 locations, including the riverfront and many miles of recreation trails. Five public swimming pools/aquatics centers are located within Sioux City neighborhoods.

Education

Public schools

The Sioux City Community School District served 14,569 students in the 2018–2019 school year; there are three public high schools West High School, North High School, East High School (grades 9-12), three public Middle Schools, West Middle, North Middle, and East Middle (grades 6-8), and 19 Elementary Schools (grades K-5).

Because of sprawl, districts around Sioux City continue to grow at dramatic rates. South Sioux City, Hinton, North Sioux City, Lawton, Bronson, Elk Point, Jefferson, Vermillion, Le Mars, Hawarden, Akron, Westfield, Ponca, Sergeant Bluff, Wayne, Sioux Center, along with other school districts that serve many metro-area students.

Private schools

Bishop Heelan Catholic Schools is a centralized private Catholic School System that includes six schools: They teach preschool through twelfth grade.

Siouxland Christian School educates grades pre-K-12 and began in 1959.

St. Paul Lutheran School offers K-5 schooling.

Advanced education

Sioux City is home to Briar Cliff University, Morningside University, Western Iowa Tech Community College, St. Luke's College of Nursing, and the Bellevue University outreach center.

Media

Television stations

Radio stations

FM stations

AM stations

Print

  • Sioux City Journal, daily newspaper serving greater Sioux City area, including Iowa, Nebraska and South Dakota.

  • Dakota County Star, weekly newspaper serving northeast Nebraska.

  • Sioux City Hispanos Unidos, bi-weekly Spanish readers paper.

  • The Weekender, weekly arts and entertainment magazine serving the Sioux City metro area east into Western Iowa and north to the South Dakota border.

  • Siouxland Magazine, quarterly magazine with community/lifestyle features.

Infrastructure

Transportation

Highways

Public transportation

Sioux City Transit, the local public transit organization, operates several bus lines within the city. Buses transfer downtown in the Martin Luther King Jr. Transportation Center at 505 Nebraska Street. The Sioux City Paratransit serves members of the community who would otherwise not be able to travel by providing door to door service.

Air

The city is served by Sioux Gateway Airport (SUX) to its south where United Airlines' affiliate SkyWest Airlines has announced it plans to discontinue the one flight per day each to Chicago and Denver it currently offers. As those flights are federally subsidized under the Essential Air Service program, SkyWest is required to continue those flights until a replacement is found.

FBO and jet charter services are currently offered by Ascension FBO Network.

Other transportation

Jefferson Lines runs long-distance bus routes to Sioux City. Non-Transfer destinations include Winnipeg, Kansas City, Minneapolis, and Omaha.

Sioux City also has several private taxi companies that operate within the city.

There is no established water or rail passenger transportation in the area. The last passenger train was the Illinois Central's Hawkeye, a daily train to Chicago via Waterloo, Dubuque and Rockford, discontinued in 1971.

Big Soo Terminal offers barge transportation.

Notable people

Sister cities

See also

References