Sioux Center, Iowa

Sioux Center, Iowa
City
Nickname:  Edgar likes tacos
Motto:  please dont come here
Location of Sioux Center, Iowa
Country	United States
State	Iowa
County	Sioux
Government
• Type	Mayor-council
• Mayor	Dennis Walstra
Area
• Total	6.31 sq mi (16.34 km2)
• Land	6.31 sq mi (16.34 km2)
• Water	0 sq mi (0 km2)
Elevation	1,463 ft (446 m)
Population  (2010)
• Total	7,048
• Estimate  (2012)	7,210
• Density	1,117.0/sq mi (431.3/km2)
Time zone	UTC-6 (Central (CST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP code	51250
Area code	712
FIPS code	19-73290
GNIS feature ID	0461652
Website	City of Sioux Center

Sioux Center is a city in Sioux County, Iowa, United States with a population of 7,048 (2010 census). Sioux Center is notable for its recent population boom, Dutch heritage, and agribusiness.

Geography

Sioux Center is located at 43°4′36″N 96°10′24″W (43.076546, -96.173214).Template:GR According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 6.31 square miles (16.34 km²), all of it land.

Sioux Center is 1,445 feet (440 m) above sea level. It is located on the north to south ridge, or spine, of western Iowa. The eastern side of Sioux Center drains to the Floyd River. The western side of Sioux Center drains to the Big Sioux River. This "divide" is profoundly unnoticeable. The area within a ten mile (16 km) radius of Sioux Center has been divided into sections of a square mile each. The gravel and paved roads marking the sections do not swerve or contour for the slight hills or valleys.

Demographics

Historical populations

Year	Pop.	±%
1900	810	—
1910	1,064	+31.4%
1920	1,389	+30.5%
1930	1,497	+7.8%
1940	1,680	+12.2%
1950	1,860	+10.7%
1960	2,275	+22.3%
1970	3,450	+51.6%
1980	4,588	+33.0%
1990	5,074	+10.6%
2000	6,002	+18.3%
2010	7,048	+17.4%
Source:"American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. and Iowa Data Center

2010 census

As of the census of 2010, there were 7,048 people, 2,201 households, and 1,598 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,117.0 inhabitants per square mile (431.3/km²). There were 2,306 housing units at an average density of 365.5 per square mile (141.1/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 91.6% White, 0.4% African American, 0.3% Native American, 1.2% Asian, 5.4% from other races, and 1.0% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 13.1% of the population.

There were 2,201 households of which 35.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 64.4% were married couples living together, 5.5% had a female householder with no husband present, 2.7% had a male householder with no wife present, and 27.4% were non-families. 23.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.70 and the average family size was 3.18.

The median age in the city was 27.7 years. 24.4% of residents were under the age of 18; 22.3% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 21.6% were from 25 to 44; 18.8% were from 45 to 64; and 13% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 49.4% male and 50.6% female.

2000 census

As of the censusTemplate:GR of 2000, there were 6,002 people, 1,831 households, and 1,351 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,134.9 people per square mile (438.1/km²). There were 1,933 housing units at an average density of 365.5 per square mile (141.1/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 96.58% White, 0.15% African American, 0.10% Native American, 0.85% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 1.62% from other races, and 0.67% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.67% of the population, but this population continues to grow.

There were 1,831 households out of which 33.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 68.0% were married couples living together, 4.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.2% were non-families. 23.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.63 and the average family size was 3.10.

Age spread: 22.3% under the age of 18, 27.1% from 18 to 24, 20.7% from 25 to 44, 15.4% from 45 to 64, and 14.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 26 years. For every 100 females there were 92.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.1 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $42,775, and the median income for a family was $51,039. Males had a median income of $35,821 versus $20,025 for females. The per capita income for the city was $16,912. About 4.9% of families and 7.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.2% of those under age 18 and 5.8% of those age 65 or over.

In 2000, 66.6% of Sioux Center residents identified as being of Dutch heritage. This was the largest percentage of Dutch Americans of any place in the country.

Economy

Sioux Center commerce, like many smaller towns in this area of Iowa, is dominated by agribusiness. Farmland near Sioux Center sold for a record $20,000 per acre in December 2011. [1] The quality of the farmland and its ability to produce high yields of corn and soybeans is the natural resource that propels the economy. Many of the larger employers in the area supply support materials to grain and animal production, process the results of grain and animal production, or provide services to the people involved in agricultural supply, production, and processing. Most of the tallest and the largest structures in town are grain storage facilities.

Other major local employers include the Interstates Companies, which specialize in the design and installation of electrical systems for industrial and commercial projects, and Pella, which manufactures windows and employs approximately 400 people in the local plant.

Sioux Center continues to have freight rail service. The BNSF Railway's main line runs parallel to U.S. Highway 75 through Sioux Center. There are several rail spurs and a BNSF equipment station. Grain is the main rail transported commodity.

Notable natives and residents

• Vern Den Herder, player on the undefeated Miami Dolphins NFL team of 1972
• Nancy Meendering Metcalf, American indoor volleyball player
• BJ Haan, Pastor, founder of Dordt
• Dave Vander Werf Aronia Farmer/Business Man, first Aronia farmer in Sioux County's history

Attractions and Events

In 2012, Sioux Center was the first stop of RAGBRAI XL (Register's Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa). Sioux Center has hosted RAGBRAI on 3 other occasions: 1990, 1996, and 2002. The Sioux County Youth Fair is held every year for about one week in the middle of July. The fair is mainly focused on agriculture, but there are also some auto races (held at the fairgrounds race track) and various activities for kids.

Early in June the city hosts "Summer Celebration" which features a car show and cruise night as well as other miscellaneous events. The "pork feeders" host an annual picnic in the central park. The Sioux-perman triathlon, inaugurated in 2007, is held annually in early May.

Sioux Center has many entertainment attractions. There is the All Seasons Center, which includes a swimming park, an ice skating arena, and rooms available for renting to have parties and get togethers in. The Fridely Theater in Centre Mall shows many new movies weekly. Dordt College has a bowling alley and recreation center.

Religion

Sioux Center's strongly Dutch heritage is also largely a Reformed (Calvinistic) Protestant heritage. Sioux Center has five Christian Reformed churches, four Reformed churches, one United Reformed church, and one Netherlands Reformed Church. There is also an Evangelical Free Church, one Lutheran Congregations in Mission for Christ church, and one ELCA church. A Roman Catholic parish is part of a cluster of two other parishes in nearby towns, all served by a single priest within the Diocese of Sioux City. Sioux Center is also home to Amistad Christiana, which is a Spanish-speaking congregation affiliated with the CRC and the RCA.

Culture

Sioux Center is home to the Northwest Iowa Symphony Orchestra. Their concert hall is the Dordt College chapel known as the B.J. Haan Auditorium. The orchestra is composed mostly of volunteers from the NW corner of Iowa. Some of the principals are paid positions. The orchestra also offers scholarships and opportunities for developing musicians from the local schools and colleges. Dr. Henry Duitman directed the orchestra for the past 22 years and was recently hired as an Assistant Professor by Grand Valley State University in Allendale Charter Township, Michigan, leaving a conductor vacancy for the orchestra. In April 2011, it was announced that Christopher Stanichar, the Director of Orchestral Activities at Augustana College in Sioux Falls, SD would be taking the director's position for the orchestra. [2]

Education

Schools

Sioux Center is the home of Dordt College. Dordt's 1400 students are drawn predominately from the local area, but a Canadian student body is also evident. Dordt's engineering and education programs are a typical draw for many students.

The Sioux Center Community School district educates 1,055 students as of February 2, 2011. The school is one of the few non-consolidated schools in northwest Iowa. The kindergarten through 4th grade Kinsey Elementary School posted an all-time high enrollment of 450 in the fall of 2011. 298 students are enrolled at the middle school, and 299 are at the high school. The elementary building and the middle school completed additional construction projects in 2010.

Sioux Center Christian School educates approximately 425 students grades K-8. Most students who graduate from Sioux Center Christian continue to either Western Christian High School in Hull, IA or Unity Christian High School in Orange City, IA, although some go to the Sioux Center High School for their high school education.

The sports teams of Dordt College and Sioux Center Community Schools enjoy a friendly, yet heated, rivalry with the teams of Orange City. Dordt College and Northwestern College compete in soccer, volleyball and basketball. Dordt College recently started a football program, fielding a Junior Varsity team in the fall of 2007 and a Varsity team in 2008. MOC-Floyd Valley Community School competes spiritedly with Sioux Center Community School in many school activities. Sioux Center is a large division 2A school, while MOC-Floyd Valley is a small division 3A school.

Library

The Sioux Center Public Library began in 1927. The library's location changed many times over the years due to expanding demand and resource materials. In 1967, the library opened in a new location one block northeast of the current Centre Mall. On July 23, 2003, a fire destroyed nearly the entire library. About $600,000 of materials were lost, though some materials were restored and saved. The library was moved to the community center while plans were drawn up for construction of a new location. Completed in September 2008, the Sioux Center Library's new location opened up the door to many services - private meeting rooms, an art gallery, and many computers available for public use.

Recent developments

Construction has begun on a new hospital site near the intersection of B40 and 13th Avenue. Estimated finish time will be spring 2014.

References

• http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/19/1973290.html

External links

• http://www.iowa.gov/educate
• http://www.siouxcenterchamber.com
• http://www.siouxcenter.org
• http://www.sioux-center.k12.ia.us
• http://www.siouxcenterchristian.com
• http://www.dordt.edu