Sioux City, Iowa
Sioux City (pronounced /ˌsuːˈsɪti/) is a city in Plymouth and Woodbury counties in the western part of the U.S. state of Iowa. The population was 85,013 at the 2000 census; census estimates showed a slight decline to 82,807 by 2008, which makes it currently the fourth largest city in the state. Sioux City is the primary city of the four-county Sioux City, IA–NE–SD Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA), with a population of 144,360 in 2000 and a slight decrease to an estimated 143,157 in 2008. The Sioux City-Vermillion, IA-NE-SD Combined Statistical Area has an estimated population of 156,762 as of 2008. It is the county seat of Woodbury County, in which the large majority of the city lies.Sioux City is at the navigational head of the Missouri River, about 90 miles (140 km) north of the Omaha-Council Bluffs metropolitan area. Sioux City and the surrounding areas of northwestern Iowa, northeastern Nebraska and southeastern South Dakota are sometimes referred to as Siouxland, especially by the local media. Sioux City is the second largest city in the Sioux Falls-Sioux City, SD-IA-MN-NE Designated Market Area (DMA), with a population of 417,952. Interstate 29 is the major highway in Sioux City and surroundings. It approaches the city from Omaha to the south before curving northwest along the Missouri River near downtown. The highway then enters South Dakota and curves back to the north as it approaches Sioux Falls.In 2008 and 2009, the Sioux City tri-state metropolitan area was recognized by Site Selection Magazine as the top economic development community in the United States for communities with populations between 50,000 and 200,000 people.
History
The first people to live in this area were Native Americans. These inhabitants lived here thousands of years before any explorers from Spain or France arrived. While the name is not known of the first European man to explore the area which is now Sioux City, it is commonly believed to be an early French or Spanish fur trader.[citation needed] The first documented explorers to record their travels through this area were the Americans Meriwether Lewis and William Clark during the summer of 1804. It was here that Sergeant Charles Floyd, a member of the Lewis & Clark Expedition, died on August 20, 1804, the only fatality during the two and a half-year expedition.On July 19, 1989, United Airlines flight 232 crash landed at Sioux Gateway Airport killing 112 persons.
Geography and climate
Sioux City is located at 42°29′53″N 96°23′45″W / 42.49806°N 96.39583°W / 42.49806; -96.39583 (42.497957, -96.395705). Sioux City is at an altitude of 1,135 feet (345.9 m) above sea level.According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 56.0 square miles (144.9 km²), of which, 54.8 square miles (141.9 km²) of it is land and 1.2 square miles (3.0 km²) of it (2.06%) is water.
Climate
Sioux City is located very near to the center of the North American continent, far removed from any major bodies of water. This lends the area a humid continental climate, with hot, humid summers, cold snowy winters, and wide temperature extremes. Summers can bring daytime temperatures that climb into the 90s Fahrenheit, and winter lows can be well below zero.
Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 85,013 people, 32,054 households, and 21,091 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,551.3 people per square mile (599.0/km²). There were 33,816 housing units at an average density of 617.1/sq mi (238.3/km²). 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 other races, and 2.28% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino 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.In the city, the population was spread out with 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.The Sioux City Human Rights Commission is an impartial governmental agency that works to protect the rights of this diverse population from discrimination.
Metropolitan area
As of the 2000 census, the Sioux City metropolitan area had 144,360 residents in four counties; the population was estimated at 143,157 in 2008. As defined by the Office of Management and Budget, the counties comprising the metropolitan area are (in descending order of population):Woodbury County, Iowa
Dakota County, Nebraska
Union County, South Dakota
Dixon County, Nebraska
Two of these counties, Union and Dixon, were added to the metro area in 2003. In reality, only Woodbury, Dakota, and Union counties contain any metropolitan character; Dixon County is entirely rural.Plymouth County is not considered part of metropolitan Sioux City although the extreme north and northwest sides of the city spill over into Plymouth County.
Economy
American Pop Corn Company is based in Sioux City.Statistics from Sioux City's 2010 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report
Arts and culture
TheSioux City Public Museumis 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 features Native American, pioneer, early Sioux City, and natural history exhibits. The museum will shortly be relocated downtown.
TheSioux City Art Center,located Downtown, was formed in 1938 as part of theWPA’s support of the arts. The Art Center is committed to supporting 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 byThomas Hart Benton,Salvador Dalí,Käthe Kollwitz,Robert Motherwell,Claes Oldenburg,James Abbott McNeill Whistler, andGrant Wood.
TheSergeant Floyd Monumentcommemorates the burial site of U.S. Army SergeantCharles Floyd, the only man to die on theLewis and Clark Expedition.It is aNational Historic Landmark, with its prominent 100-foot (30 m) obelisk situated on 23 acres (93,000 m2) of parkland, high on a river bluff with a splendid view of theMissouri Rivervalley.
Chris Larsen Park, informally known as 'The Riverfront,' is the launching point for the riverboat casino and includes the Anderson Dance Pavilion, the Sergeant Floyd Riverboat Museum and theLewis and Clark Interpretive Center, opened in 2004. Massive Missouri River development began in 2005 with the opening of the MLR Tyme Marina area, which includes Beverly's, an upscale restaurant.
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. TheSaturday in the Parkmusic festival began in 1991 and is held there annually over a weekend around the Fourth of July. 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 largest historic theatre in Iowa, theOrpheum Theater (Sioux City).[citation needed]
Nearby communities
South Sioux City, Nebraskais directly across theMissouri RiverinDakota County. With nearly 12,000 residents, it is the largest suburb of Sioux City. It was anAll America Cityin 2003. Two bridges—the Veterans Memorial Bridge and theInterstate 129bridge—connect Sioux City with South Sioux City.
Dakota City, Nebraskais just south of South Sioux City. It is the county seat ofDakota County.
North Sioux City, South Dakotais just across theBig Sioux RiverinUnion County.
Dakota Dunes, South Dakotais anunincorporated'master-planned community' just west of Sioux City in the extreme southeast corner ofSouth Dakota. Construction began circa 1989. Up-scale homes, suburban-style office parks, and acountry clubgolf coursedesigned byArnold Palmercharacterize this area.
Sergeant Bluffis a mainly residentialsuburbadjacent to the southern city limits of Sioux City, less than a mile east of theSioux City airport.
Parks and recreation
Stone State Parkis in the northwest corner of the city, overlooking the South Dakota/Iowa border. Stone Park is near the northernmost extent of theLoess Hills, and is at the transition from clay bluffs and prairie to sedimentary rock hills andbur oakforest along the Iowa side of theBig Sioux River. The park is used bypicnickers, day hikers, and for mountain biking.
Dorothy Pecaut Nature Centeris 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 turkeysandwhite-tail deerare commonly sighted from the well-marked trails.
Downtown entertainment venues include both thecasinoand the 10,000-seatTyson Event Center/ Gateway Arena.
Pulaski Park is named for thePolishGeneralKazimierz 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. The neighborhood on the bluff overlooking the park was historically settled byLithuanianand Polish immigrants, many of whom worked in the meatpacking industry during the early 20th century.[citation needed]
Latham Parkis located in a residential area of Morningside, and is the only privately owned and maintained open-to-the-public park within the city limits.[citation needed]It was left in trust in 1937 under the terms of Clara Latham's will; her family had built the house on 1-acre (4,000 m2) 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 theYankton SiouxchiefWambdi Okicize(d. 1851) 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 theeagle feather bonnetand holding thepeace 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,Theophile Bruguier; his original cabin is preserved in the park.[citation needed]
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, Southern Hills Country Club, and Whispering Creek Golf Club. The city has over 1,132 acres (5 km2) 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
Sioux City is the home of Morningside College, Briar Cliff University, St. Luke's College, and Western Iowa Tech Community College.
Television stations
KTIV, Channel 4,NBCaffiliate (4.1)CWaffiliate (4.2)
KCAU, Channel 9,ABCaffiliate
KMEG, Channel 14,CBSaffiliate (14.1)Aztecaaffiliate (14.2)
KSIN, Channel 27,PBSmember station
KPTH, Channel 44,Foxaffiliate (44.1)MyNetworkaffiliate (44.2)
Radio stations
K-LOVE, 88.9, Plays commercial freecontemporary Christian music. Also can be picked up on 107.5 out ofCastana, Iowa.
KMSC, 92.9, operated byMorningside College
KWIT, 90.3, public radio, operated byWestern Iowa Tech Community College
KGLI, 95.5, 'KG95' --adult contemporary; previously playedtop 40; signed on in 1983
KSEZ, 97.9, 'Z98' -- playsrock music(classic and new rock); previouslytop 40station 'Rock 98' in the 1980s
KKMA, 99.5, 'Kool 99.5' -- playsClassic Hits; formerlyadult contemporary'Magic 99'; call letters were KZZL in the early 1980s as aneasy listeningformat Home of Iowa State Cyclones athletics
KKYY, 101.3, 'Y101.3' --country music; the newest FM signal in the market
KQNU, 102.3, ('New 102.3') -- a 'adult hits' station; signed on as Bob-FM on March 13, 2006
KTFC, 103.3,Religious radiostation ('Midwest Bible Radio')
WNAX, 104.1, country; broadcasts fromYankton, South Dakota; low-power translator K283AG broadcasts at 104.5 FM in Sioux City, but both frequencies are audible in Sioux City. Previously oldies/classic hits KCLH; wastop 40KQHU 'Q104' in 1990.
KSUX, 105.7, 'The SuperPig, K-Sioux 105.7'; has playedcountry musicsince the signal went on-air in the fall of 1990.
KSFT-FM, 107.1, 'Kiss 107FM' --top 40station as of March 13, 2006; previously playedadult contemporary; signed on in the mid-1990s.
WNAX, 570,talk radioandfarmnews fromYankton, South Dakota; with a signal covering much of the upperMidwest
KMNS, 620,sports talk radio; was previously '62 Country'
KSCJ, 1360,talk radio; call letters derive from the Sioux CityJournal, which once owned the station
KWSL, 1470, 'Superhits 1470 KWSL', playsoldies; was previously broadcasting Spanish language music under the 'La Preciosa' branding
Print
Sioux City Journal, daily newspaper serving the Sioux City metro area east into Western Iowa and north to the South Dakota border.
Dakota County Star, weekly newspaper serving northeast Nebraska.
Sioux CityHispanos 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.
Sports
TheSioux City Banditsare an arena football team in theIndoor Football Leaguein the United Conference. The Bandits play their home games at the Tyson Events Center. They have been to the Indoor Football League playoffs five times.
TheSioux City Explorersare a non affiliated baseball team playing in American Association of Independent Professional Baseball league. The Explorers play their home games at Lewis and Clark Park. They have been to the League playoffs four times.
TheSioux City Musketeersare a junior hockey team based in Sioux City. They play in the United States Hockey League(USHL) conference. They play their home games at Tyson Event Center. Their first year of hockey was in 1972. The Musketeers have won the gold cup in the 1985-1986 season, the National Runner-up twice (1993-94, 1995-96), the Anderson Cup twice (1981-82, 1985-86), the Clark Cup three times (1981-82, 1985-86, 2001-02), and were the West Division Playoff Champions for the 2004-05 season.
Notable people
John W. Aldridge, born in Sioux City, grew up in Tennessee, literary critic, author.
Dave Bancroft, Major LeagueBaseball Hall of Fameshortstop; nicknamed 'Beauty'
Joe Bisenius, Philadelphia Phillies relief pitcher and graduate of Bishop Heelan High School
Tommy Bolin, born in Sioux City, member ofDeep PurpleandThe James Gangwho also had a solo career
Mildred Brown, African-American journalist, worked in Iowa as a teacher before moving to Omaha and founding theOmaha Star
Macdonald Carey, actor; the longtime patriarch onDays of our Lives
Matt Chatham, born in Newton, Iowa,New York Jetslinebacker
Dave Croston(1963–xxxx) formerNFLplayer forGreen Bay Packers
ColonelGeorge E. 'Bud' Day, U.S. Air Force, VietnamPOW, recipient of theMedal of Honor; the United States' most highly decorated officer since GeneralDouglas MacArthur. The Sioux City Airport is named Colonel Bud Day Field in his honor as is 6th Street (Honorable Bud Day Street).
W. Edwards Deming, raised in Polk City, quality-control expert; helped improve Japan's quality control
Sharon Farrell(1940–xxxx) actress (birth name Sharon Forsmoe)
Bruce Forbes, author, professor of Religious StuidesMorningside College[citation needed]relationship to Sioux City
For Today, A Christian Metal band signed toFacedown Records
Esther and Paulline Friedman, better known asAnn LandersandAbigail Van Buren; graduates of Central High School
Peggy Gilbert, jazz saxophonist and bandleader
Dan Goldie, former tennis player, winner of 2 ATP singles titles
Fred Grandy, actor, congressman, former CEO ofGoodwill; radio personality for WMAL Radio, Washington, D.C.
Dick Green, raised in Rapid City, South Dakota, former MLB second baseman with the Kansas City andOakland Athletics
William L. Harding(1877–1934) born inSibley, the22nd Governor of Iowa1917–1921
Jules Harlow, conservative Jewish rabbi and liturgist
Kirk Hinrich,Washington Wizardsguard
Noah Holcomb, professional cyclist
Harry Hopkins,Secretary of Commerce, moved toCouncil Bluffsshortly after birth, advisor to FDR during World War II
Ryan Kisor, jazz trumpeter
George Koval, 1913–2006, Soviet atomic spy and only Soviet agent to infiltrate the Manhattan Project
Al McIntosh, born inPark River, North Dakota, newspaper editor whose columns are featured inKen Burns'The War
Jerry Mathers, Beaver Cleaver on TV'sLeave It To Beaver
Daniel Matousek, lead singer and guitarist forThe Velaires, graduate of Central High School
John Melcher, United States senator from Montana from 1977 to 1989
Lori Petty, born inChattanooga, Tennessee, actress best known for her starring role inA League of Their Own
Frances Rafferty, MGM actress of the 1940s and early TV star best known for the sitcomDecember Bride
Ann Royer, painter, sculptor
Laurens Shull, All-American football player killed in France during World War I
Edward J. Sperling, born inSlutsk,Belarus, Jewish writer and humorist
Morgan Taylor, set 400-meter hurdles Olympic record while winning gold medal in 1924
Morgan Thomas, jazz trombonist with Louis Prima Orchestra; recorded prolifically with Prima and Keely Smith in the 1950s and 1960s
Ted WaittandNorman Waitt, co-founders ofGateway, Inc.
Brian Wansink, Cornell University professor and author ofMindless Eating: Why We Eat More Than We Think
Pierre Watkin, actor in radio, films and TV from 1930s-1950s, most famously played editorPerry Whitein the originalSupermanserials
Kathleen Weaver, writer and editor
Don Wengert, baseball player who pitched in the Major Leagues from 1995–2001
Gerald W. Wolff, retired historian of theAmerican WestandIndians, is a former resident of Sioux City.
For Today, A Christian Metal band signed toFacedown RecordsNOT A PERSON
Scott Hessescotthesse.org, noted jazz guitar player and bandleader NO WIKI ARTICLE
Ben BernsteinBen Bernstein, noted jazz, bluegrass and rock bassist, including as a member ofNew MonsoonNO WIKI ARTICLE
Johnny Bolinclassicwebs, born in Sioux City, rock drummer forBlack Oak Arkansas, living in Sioux City as of 2008. NO WIKI ARTICLE
Sister cities
Lake Charles,Louisiana(since 1995)
Yamanashi City,Yamanashi Prefecture,Japan(since 2003)