Sioux Center, Iowa facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Sioux Center, Iowa
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| Motto(s):
Growing Brighter
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Location of Sioux Center, Iowa
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 Sioux Center, Iowa
Location in Iowa
Sioux Center, Iowa
Location in the United States
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| Country |  United States |
| State |  Iowa |
| County | Sioux |
| Government | |
| • Type | Mayor-council |
| Area | |
| • Total | 6.22 sq mi (16.12 km2) |
| • Land | 6.22 sq mi (16.12 km2) |
| • Water | 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2) |
| Elevation | 1,463 ft (446 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 8,229 |
| • Density | 1,322.14/sq mi (510.47/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP code |
51250
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| Area code(s) | 712 |
| FIPS code | 19-73290 |
| GNIS feature ID | 0461652 |
Sioux Center is a city located in Sioux County, Iowa. In 2020, about 8,229 people lived here. Sioux Center is known for its strong Dutch roots, its focus on farming businesses, and for being the home of Dordt University.
Contents
- Exploring Sioux Center's Geography
- Sioux Center's Growing Population
- Sioux Center's Economy and Jobs
- Famous People from Sioux Center
- Fun Things to Do and Events in Sioux Center
- Religion in Sioux Center
- Sioux Center's Culture and Arts
- Learning and Schools in Sioux Center
- Community Groups and Organizations
- See also
Exploring Sioux Center's Geography
Sioux Center is found at coordinates 43°4′36″N 96°10′24″W. The city covers an area of about 6.31 square miles (16.3 square kilometers), and all of it is land.
The city sits about 1,445 feet (440 meters) above sea level. It's located near a natural ridge that runs from north to south in western Iowa. Water on the eastern side of Sioux Center flows into the Floyd River. Water on the western side flows into the Big Sioux River. The roads around Sioux Center are mostly straight, following a grid pattern, even over small hills.
Sioux Center's Climate and Weather
Sioux Center experiences a variety of weather throughout the year. Summers are generally warm, and winters can be quite cold with snow. The area gets a good amount of rain, especially in spring and summer.
| Climate data for Sioux Center 2 SE, Iowa (1991−2020 normals, extremes 1899−present) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °F (°C) | 68 (20) |
68 (20) |
87 (31) |
95 (35) |
105 (41) |
105 (41) |
109 (43) |
109 (43) |
102 (39) |
92 (33) |
79 (26) |
66 (19) |
109 (43) |
| Mean maximum °F (°C) | 47.1 (8.4) |
52.5 (11.4) |
70.3 (21.3) |
83.5 (28.6) |
91.1 (32.8) |
94.4 (34.7) |
93.9 (34.4) |
92.3 (33.5) |
89.5 (31.9) |
84.2 (29.0) |
66.6 (19.2) |
49.9 (9.9) |
96.6 (35.9) |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 27.4 (−2.6) |
32.9 (0.5) |
46.3 (7.9) |
61.2 (16.2) |
73.2 (22.9) |
82.4 (28.0) |
84.8 (29.3) |
82.3 (27.9) |
77.1 (25.1) |
63.6 (17.6) |
45.8 (7.7) |
31.5 (−0.3) |
59.0 (15.0) |
| Daily mean °F (°C) | 18.4 (−7.6) |
23.4 (−4.8) |
35.7 (2.1) |
48.7 (9.3) |
60.8 (16.0) |
70.7 (21.5) |
73.3 (22.9) |
70.9 (21.6) |
64.2 (17.9) |
51.1 (10.6) |
35.6 (2.0) |
23.0 (−5.0) |
48.0 (8.9) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 9.4 (−12.6) |
13.9 (−10.1) |
25.2 (−3.8) |
36.1 (2.3) |
48.4 (9.1) |
58.9 (14.9) |
61.8 (16.6) |
59.5 (15.3) |
51.2 (10.7) |
38.6 (3.7) |
25.4 (−3.7) |
14.5 (−9.7) |
36.9 (2.7) |
| Mean minimum °F (°C) | −15.9 (−26.6) |
−9.0 (−22.8) |
1.1 (−17.2) |
19.1 (−7.2) |
32.7 (0.4) |
45.8 (7.7) |
49.3 (9.6) |
46.2 (7.9) |
33.4 (0.8) |
19.8 (−6.8) |
5.2 (−14.9) |
−9.5 (−23.1) |
−19.0 (−28.3) |
| Record low °F (°C) | −37 (−38) |
−33 (−36) |
−19 (−28) |
−1 (−18) |
17 (−8) |
33 (1) |
38 (3) |
37 (3) |
21 (−6) |
−2 (−19) |
−20 (−29) |
−32 (−36) |
−37 (−38) |
| Average precipitation inches (mm) | 0.67 (17) |
0.88 (22) |
1.72 (44) |
2.98 (76) |
4.15 (105) |
4.51 (115) |
3.45 (88) |
3.40 (86) |
3.21 (82) |
2.46 (62) |
1.43 (36) |
0.99 (25) |
29.85 (758) |
| Average snowfall inches (cm) | 6.8 (17) |
7.7 (20) |
5.6 (14) |
3.1 (7.9) |
0.1 (0.25) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.9 (2.3) |
3.9 (9.9) |
6.7 (17) |
34.8 (88) |
| Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in) | 5.1 | 5.2 | 6.1 | 9.4 | 12.4 | 10.8 | 8.3 | 9.0 | 7.8 | 7.6 | 5.6 | 5.8 | 93.1 |
| Average snowy days (≥ 0.1 in) | 3.8 | 3.9 | 2.6 | 1.2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.5 | 2.3 | 4.1 | 18.4 |
| Source: NOAA | |||||||||||||
Sioux Center's Growing Population
| Historical populations | ||
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| 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% |
| 2020 | 8,229 | +16.8% |
| Source: and Iowa Data Center Source: |
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Sioux Center has seen its population grow steadily over the years. This growth shows how the city has developed and attracted more people.
Sioux Center's Population in 2020
In 2020, the city had 8,229 people living in 2,495 households. The population density was about 1,322 people per square mile. Most residents (78.6%) were White, and 21.0% identified as Hispanic or Latino.
The median age in Sioux Center was 27.4 years old. This means half the people were younger than 27.4 and half were older. A large part of the population, 36.0%, was under 20 years old.
Sioux Center's Population in 2010
Back in 2010, Sioux Center had 7,048 people. The racial makeup was similar, with 91.6% identifying as White. About 13.1% of the population was Hispanic or Latino.
The median age was 27.7 years. About 24.4% of residents were under 18, and 22.3% were between 18 and 24.
Sioux Center's Economy and Jobs
The economy in Sioux Center, like many towns in northwest Iowa, is mostly about agribusiness. This means businesses related to farming. The land around Sioux Center is very good for growing corn and soybeans, which helps the economy a lot. Many big buildings in town are used to store grain.
Many local jobs are with companies that support farming. These companies might provide materials for farms, process farm products, or offer services to people in the farming industry.
Other important employers include Interstates Companies, which designs and installs electrical systems for large projects. Pella also has a factory here that makes windows, employing around 400 people.
Sioux Center also has freight train service. The BNSF Railway's main line runs through the city, and trains mostly carry grain.
Famous People from Sioux Center
Sioux Center has been home to some well-known individuals:
- Vern Den Herder: A football player who was part of the undefeated 1972 Miami Dolphins team.
- Nancy Meendering Metcalf: A famous American indoor volleyball player.
- Dennis Muilenburg: The former president and CEO of Boeing, a large aerospace company.
- Eldon Mulder: A former member of the Alaska House of Representatives.
Fun Things to Do and Events in Sioux Center
Sioux Center hosts many fun events throughout the year!
- RAGBRAI: Sioux Center has been a stop for RAGBRAI (Register's Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa) four times, including in 2012. This is a huge bike ride across the state.
- Sioux County Youth Fair: Every July, the city holds this fair. It focuses on agriculture, but also has live music and activities for kids.
- Summer Celebration: In early June, this event features a local theater show, a car show, and a "cruise night" where people drive their cool cars around.
- Triathlon and Marathon: The "Siouxperman Triathlon" happens in early May, and the "Harvest Half Marathon & 10K" is in early October.
For entertainment, you can visit the All Seasons Center. It has the Siouxnami Waterpark, an indoor swimming area, and an ice skating rink. Dordt University's Campus Center also has a bowling alley and a recreation center.
Religion in Sioux Center
Sioux Center has a strong Dutch heritage, which means many people follow the Reformed (Calvinistic) Protestant faith. There are several Christian Reformed churches, Reformed Church in America churches, and other Protestant churches. There is also a Roman Catholic church. Amistad Christiana is a Spanish-speaking church community in Sioux Center.
Sioux Center's Culture and Arts
Sioux Center is home to the Northwest Iowa Symphony Orchestra. They perform at the B.J. Haan Auditorium, which is the chapel at Dordt University. The orchestra is made up of many volunteers from the area, and they also help young musicians develop their skills.
Learning and Schools in Sioux Center
Schools in Sioux Center
Sioux Center is proud to be the home of Dordt University. Dordt has about 1,500 students who come from the local area, other parts of the United States and Canada, and even from around the world. Their engineering, education, and agriculture programs are very popular.
The Sioux Center Community School district teaches about 1,730 students. Kinsey Elementary School, for kindergarten through 4th grade, had 477 students in 2024. The intermediate and middle schools have 596 students, and the high school has 502. Both the elementary and middle schools had new construction projects finished in 2010.
Sioux Center Christian School teaches about 538 students from pre-kindergarten through 8th grade. After graduating from Sioux Center Christian, most students go on to high schools like Western Christian High School or Unity Christian High School. Some also attend Sioux Center High School.
There's a friendly but strong sports rivalry between the teams from Dordt University and Sioux Center Community Schools and those from Orange City. Dordt University and Northwestern College compete in many sports like soccer, volleyball, and basketball. Sioux Center Community School also has spirited competitions with MOC-Floyd Valley Community School.
Sioux Center Public Library
The Sioux Center Public Library started in 1927. It moved several times as it grew. In 2003, a fire unfortunately destroyed the library building and its materials. The library then moved to the community center while a new building was planned. The new Sioux Center Library opened in September 2008. It offers many services, including private meeting rooms, an art gallery, and public computers.
Community Groups and Organizations
Boy Scouts of America in Sioux Center
Scouting has been a part of Sioux Center since 1923. Troop 211 has been active since 1935. Over the years, more than 75 Scouts from this troop have earned the highest rank of Eagle Scout.
Sioux Center Wreaths Across America
Every December, Sioux Center participates in Wreaths Across America. This tradition started in 1992 when a wreath company donated extra wreaths to be placed on graves at Arlington National Cemetery. Now, it's a national movement where wreaths are laid at over 1,000 locations to honor veterans during the holiday season. Individuals, groups, or businesses can sponsor a wreath to be placed in Memory Gardens.
See also
In Spanish: Sioux Center (Iowa) para niños
