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Sioux City, Iowa
Downtown Sioux City.
Downtown Sioux City.
Location in Iowa
Location in Iowa
Sioux City, Iowa is located in Iowa
Sioux City, Iowa
Sioux City, Iowa
Location in Iowa
Sioux City, Iowa is located in the United States
Sioux City, Iowa
Sioux City, Iowa
Location in the United States
Country  United States
State  Iowa
Counties Woodbury, Plymouth
Founded 1854
Incorporated 1857
Area
 • City 59.63 sq mi (154.4 km2)
 • Land 58.46 sq mi (151.4 km2)
 • Water 1.165 sq mi (3.02 km2)
Elevation
1,201 ft (366 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • City 85,797
 • Rank
  • US: 407th
  • IA: 4th
 • Density 1,467.6/sq mi (566.65/km2)
 • Urban
106,494 (US: 292nd)
 • Metro
149,940 (US: 284th)
 • CSA
175,638
Time zone UTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST) UTC−5 (Central)
ZIP Codes
51101–51104, 51106-51108, 51109-51111
Area code(s) 712
FIPS code 19-73335
GNIS feature ID 0461653
Interstates I-29 (IA 1957).svg I-129 (IA 1961).svg

Sioux City is a city in Woodbury and Plymouth counties in the northwestern part of the U.S. state of Iowa. The population was 85,797 in the 2020 census, making it the fourth-largest city in Iowa. The bulk of the city is in Woodbury County, of which it is the county seat, though a small portion is in Plymouth County. 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 Riverboat Museum and Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center. Sioux City is the primary city of the five-county Sioux City, IANESD Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA), with a population of 149,940 in the 2020 Census. The Sioux City–Vermillion, IA–NE–SD Combined Statistical Area had a population of 175,638 as of 2020.

Sioux City is at the navigational head, or the furthest upstream point to which general cargo ships can travel, of the Missouri River, approximately 95 miles (153 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 local media and residents.

History

Sioux City, Iowa water front scene - NARA - 285906
Waterfront, circa 1912

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.

1859 nebraska
1859 map of route from Sioux City, Iowa, through Nebraska, to gold fields of Wyoming, partially following old Mormon trails.

Sioux City was laid out in the winter of 1854-55. It became a major Entrepôt to the western Plains, including Mormons heading to Salt Lake City and speculators heading to Wyoming gold fields.

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 a 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, killing 111 people, but 184 survived the crash and ensuing fire due to outstandingly quick performances by fire and emergency local teams that earned them several National Congress Medals, given by President George H. W. Bush in 1990.

Geography and climate

Geography

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 58.49 square miles (151.49 km2), of which, 57.35 square miles (148.54 km2) is land and 1.14 square miles (2.95 km2) is water.

Climate

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 20.4 °F (−6.4 °C) in January to 74.3 °F (23.5 °C) in July. On average, there are 25 days that reach 90 °F (32 °C) or higher, 52 days that do not climb above freezing, and 17 days with a low of 0 °F (−18 °C) or below annually. The average window for freezing temperatures is October 1 thru April 26, allowing a growing season of 157 days. Extreme temperatures officially range from −35 °F (−37 °C) on January 12, 1912 up to 111 °F (44 °C) on July 4 and 17, 1936 as well as July 11, 1939; the record cold daily maximum is −22 °F (−30 °C) on February 8, 1899, while, conversely, the record warm daily minimum is 86 °F (30 °C) on August 18, 1936.

Precipitation is greatest in May and June and averages 27.7 in (700 mm) annually, but has ranged from 14.33 in (364 mm) in 1976 to 41.10 in (1,044 mm) in 1903. Snowfall averages 34.8 in (88 cm) per season, and has historically ranged from 6.9 in (18 cm) in 1895–96 to 65.9 in (167 cm) in 1961–62; the average window for measurable (≥0.1 in or 0.25 cm) snowfall is November 8 thru April 7, although snow in October occurs several times per decade. On May 14, 2013, the high temperature reached 106 °F (41 °C), setting a new all-time May record high, along with a 77 °F (43 °C) rise from the morning of the 12th.


Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop.
1870 3,401
1880 7,366 116.6%
1890 37,806 413.3%
1900 33,111 −12.4%
1910 47,828 44.4%
1920 71,227 48.9%
1930 79,183 11.2%
1940 82,364 4.0%
1950 83,991 2.0%
1960 89,159 6.2%
1970 85,925 −3.6%
1980 82,003 −4.6%
1990 80,505 −1.8%
2000 85,013 5.6%
2010 82,684 −2.7%
2020 85,797 3.8%
  • U.S. Decennial Census
  • 2020 Census

2010 census

As of the census of 2010, there were 82,684 people, 31,571 households, and 20,144 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,441.7 inhabitants per square mile (556.6/km2). There were 33,425 housing units at an average density of 582.8 per square mile (225.0/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 80.6% White, 2.9% African American, 2.6% Native American, 2.7% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 7.4% from other races, and 3.7% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 16.4% 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.

Metropolitan area

As of the 2020 census, the Sioux City Metropolitan Area had 149,940 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):

Arts and culture

Sergeant Floyd Monument, sunset
Sergeant Floyd Monument
  • 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 100-foot (30 m) obelisk situated on 23 acres (93,000 m2) 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 includes Bev's on the River, an upscale restaurant.
  • Milwaukee Railroad Shop is a 31.5 acre facility that is being renovated by the Siouxland Historical Railroad Association. It includes a 4-6-2 Pacific type steam locomotive 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 largest historic theatre in Iowa, the Orpheum Theatre.
  • Theatre is produced in Sioux City by three main entities, the Sioux City Community Theatre (SCCT), LAMB Arts Regional Theatre, and Shot in the Dark Productions. Each of these produce a full season of shows each year.

Neighborhoods, commercial districts, and suburbs

Veteransbridge
Veteran's Memorial Bridge

City neighborhoods

Nearby communities

Parks and recreation

Stoneparkwoods
Stone State Park
  • 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.
  • Downtown entertainment venues include the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, the 10,000-seat Tyson Event Center/ Gateway 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. The neighborhood on the bluff overlooking the park was historically settled by Lithuanian and Polish immigrants, many of whom worked in the meatpacking industry during the early 20th century.
  • 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 (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 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 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.

Transportation

Highways

Interstate 29 is a major controlled-access highway in Sioux City and the surrounding area providing easy access of the 20-mile stretch covering Sioux City and the majority of its suburbs. 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. Interstate 129 is an auxiliary Interstate that connects South Sioux City, Nebraska, to the south side of Sioux City and works as a bypass for travelers to other surrounding suburbs. Interstate 129 also interconnects with U.S. Route 75, which is in expansion to expressway form connecting Sioux City to Worthington, Minnesota. U.S. Route 20, the longest road in the United States, spanning 3,365 miles (5,415 km), is also in the process of expanding from a two-lane highway to four-lanes from Sioux City to Dubuque, which will provide faster and easier access comparable to Interstate 80. Until 2020, Sioux City operated automatic speed cameras on Interstate 29. Redflex Holdings, the camera operator, and the city extricated US$22,000,000 from drivers while they were operating. The state of South Dakota has been refusing to provide addresses associated with license plates due to the large number of South Dakota residents fined by Sioux City.

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) 6 miles (9.7 km) 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 Hawthorne Global Aviation Services.

In 2019, the Federal Aviation Administration proposed a US$145,452 civil penalty against SUX Airport for numerous alleged safety violations including alleging that the airport repeatedly failed to maintain surfaces, runway and taxiway markings, and visual wind direction indicators. The FAA inspected the airport in May 2018, June 2019, and September 2019, and each time found numerous alleged violations.

Others

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.

Sister cities

Economy

Floyd River2
The Floyd River in Sioux City
Missouri-Floyd Rivers Sioux City Iowa
Confluence of the Missouri and Floyd River in Sioux City
Top employers

Statistics from Sioux City's 2020 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report

Rank Employer
  • Number of
  • Employees
  • % of Total City
  • Employment
1   Tyson Fresh Meats 4,500   10.77%  
2   Seaboard Triumph Foods 2,400   5.74%  
2   Sioux City Community School District 2,370   5.67%  
4   Bomgaars 2,100   5.02%  
5   Mercy Medical Center 1,562   3.74%  
6   UnityPoint Health - St. Luke's 1,500   3.59%  
7   Hy-Vee 1,023   2.45%  
8   185th Air Refueling Wing 952   2.28%  
9   City of Sioux City 878   2.10%  
10   Western Iowa Tech Community College 700   ---  
Totals   17,985   41.36%  

Sports

Sioux City Events Center from SW 3
Tyson Events Center, with Fleet Farm Arena to the left and Longlines Family Recreation Center to the right
  • The Sioux City Bandits are an indoor football team that play in Champions Indoor Football. The Bandits play their home games at the Tyson Events Center.
  • The Sioux City Explorers are an independent baseball team playing in the American Association. The Explorers play their home games at Lewis and Clark Park. They have been to the league playoffs five times.
  • The Sioux City Musketeers are a junior hockey team based in Sioux City. They play in the United States Hockey League (USHL). They play their home games at the Tyson Events 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 three times (1981–82, 1985–86, 2016–17), the Clark Cup three times (1981–82, 1985–86, 2001–02), and Western Division Champions for the 2004–05, and 2016-17 seasons.
  • The Sioux City Roller Dames were a non-profit roller derby corporation. The Roller Dames played all home games at the Longlines Family Recreation Center. The Dames hosted their first tournament in November 2008 and dissolved in December 2016.
  • In the late 19th century, the Sioux City Cornhuskers played baseball in the Western League. After a five-year stint in St. Paul, Minnesota, the league changed its name to the American League, and the team moved to Chicago, where it continues today as the Chicago White Sox.
  • The Sioux City Stampede play amateur outdoor football in the Midwest Football Alliance.
  • The Sioux City Swine plays rugby union.

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 Community Christian School educates grades K-12.

Advanced education

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

Notable people

  • John W. Aldridge, born in Sioux City, grew up in Tennessee, literary critic, author
  • Jim Aton, jazz bassist, pianist, vocalist and composer with Billie Holiday, Bill Evans, Anita O'Day, others
  • Dave Bancroft, Major League Baseball Hall of Fame shortstop; nicknamed "Beauty"
  • Emmett Barrett, football player
  • Joe Bisenius, Philadelphia Phillies relief pitcher, graduate of Bishop Heelan Catholic High School
  • Tommy Bolin, born in Sioux City, member of Deep Purple and the James Gang, also had a solo career
  • Bread of Stone, American contemporary Christian music and pop rock band formed in 2004.
  • Sally Brent, American distance runner and marathon winner.
  • Mildred Brown, African-American journalist, worked in Iowa as teacher before moving to Omaha and founding Omaha Star
  • Macdonald Carey, actor; the longtime patriarch on Days of Our Lives
  • Paul B. Carpenter, California state legislator; born in Sioux City
  • Matt Chatham, NFL linebacker, born in Newton, Iowa, graduate of North High School
  • Eli Chesen, psychiatrist and writer
  • Ron Clements, Disney animator, co-director of The Little Mermaid, Aladdin and The Princess and the Frog
  • Vern Clark, former Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) in the United States Navy
  • Ryan Cownie, stand-up comedian, born in Sioux City
  • Dave Croston (1963– ), former NFL player for Green Bay Packers
  • Brigadier General George E. "Bud" Day, U.S. Air Force, Vietnam POW, recipient of the Medal of Honor; the United States' most highly decorated officer since General Douglas MacArthur; Sioux City's airport is named Brigadier General Bud Day Field in his honor, as is 6th Street (Honorable Bud Day Street)
  • Leo Delperdang, born in Sioux City. Member of Kansas House of Representatives
  • W. Edwards Deming, born in Sioux City but raised in Polk City; quality-control expert, helped improve Japan's quality control
  • Brittni Donaldson (1993–), current assistant coach with the Toronto Raptors; born in Sioux City and a graduate of North High School
  • Todd Doxzon, football player
  • Sharon Farrell (1940– ), actress (birth name Sharon Forsmoe)
  • Vergilius Ferm (1896-1974), philosopher, historian, and Compton Professor of Philosophy at the College of Wooster.
  • Bruce Forbes, author, professor of Religious Studies Morningside College
  • For Today, a Christian metal band signed to Razor & Tie Records
Pauline Phillips 1961
Sioux City native Pauline (Friedman) Phillips, who used the pen name of Abigail Van Buren for her advice column "Dear Abby", was the twin sister of Esther (Friedman) Lederer, the author of the competing Ann Landers column.
  • Esther and Pauline Friedman, better known as Ann Landers and Abigail Van Buren, respectively; advice columnists; both born in Sioux City and graduates of Central High School
  • Lila-Gene George (1918-2017), composer and pianist
  • Peggy Gilbert, jazz saxophonist and bandleader
  • Dan Goldie, tennis player, winner of two ATP singles titles
  • Fred Grandy, television actor who played Gopher Smith on The Love Boat; later became a U.S. congressman, CEO of Goodwill, and a radio personality for WMAL in Washington, D.C.
  • Dick Green, former MLB second baseman with Kansas City and Oakland Athletics, raised in South Dakota
  • Marcus Hahnemann, goalkeeper for United States men's national soccer team
  • William L. Harding (1877–1934), born in Sibley, the 22nd Governor of Iowa 1917–1921
  • Jules Harlow, conservative Jewish rabbi and liturgist
  • Matthew C. Harrison, 13th president of the Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod
  • Tim Hauff, jazz bassist, performed with Herbie Hancock, Wayne Shoter, Bruce Forman, others
  • Alan Hurwitz, born in Sioux City, 10th president of Gallaudet University
  • Kirk Hinrich, professional basketball player
  • J.B.E. Hittle, author and historian
  • Noah Holcomb, professional cyclist
  • Harry Hopkins, Secretary of Commerce, moved to Council Bluffs shortly after birth, advisor to FDR during World War II
  • Shelby Houlihan competed in the 5000m in the 2016 Rio Olympics. Currently holds the American Record in the 5000.
  • Fred Jackson, born in Fort Worth, Texas, attended Coe in Cedar Rapids; played football for Bandits and later NFL's Buffalo Bills
  • Jacqui Kalin (born 1989), American-Israeli professional basketball player
  • Ryan Kisor, jazz trumpeter
  • Judy Kimball, LPGA champion golfer, member of Iowa Sports Hall of Fame
  • Roy L. Kline, Brigadier general, USMC and Naval aviator
  • George Koval (1913–2006), Soviet atomic spy and only Soviet agent to infiltrate the Manhattan Project
  • Jerry Lacy, actor of theatre and television and films, primarily known for roles in the Gothic soap opera Dark Shadows
  • Kian Lawley, Social Media Star, YouTuber and Actor, best known for being a member of O2L, a YouTube collab channel alongside JC Caylen.
  • Dave Loebsack, U.S. congressman for Iowa's 2nd congressional district
  • Al McIntosh, born in Park River, North Dakota, newspaper editor whose columns are featured in Ken Burns' The War
  • Jerry Mathers, actor, played Beaver Cleaver on TV's Leave It to Beaver
  • Daniel Matousek, lead singer and guitarist for The Velaires, graduate of Central High School
  • Max McGraw, Founder of McGraw-Edison and Centel, grew up in Sioux City
  • John Melcher, U.S. Senator from Montana from 1977 to 1989
  • Iris Meredith, actress
  • Big Miller (Clarence Horatius Miller), jazz and blues singer and double bassist
  • Constance Moore, singer and actress, star of 1940s films
  • Marshall F. Moore, 7th Governor of Washington Territory
  • John Mosher, jazz bassist, composer, with Cal Tjader, Brew Moore, Earl Hines, Tennessee Ernie Ford
  • John Osborn, tenor
  • Lori Petty, born in Chattanooga, Tennessee, actress best known for her starring role in A League of Their Own
  • Frances Rafferty, MGM film actress of the 1940s, also known for TV sitcom December Bride
  • Max Rafferty, brother of Frances Rafferty; California State Superintendent of Public Instruction from 1963 to 1971, was reared in Sioux City
  • John Redwine, Iowa state senator and physician, lived in Sioux Falls
  • Ann Royer, painter, sculptor
  • Laurens Shull, All-American football player killed in France during World War I
  • Edward J. Sperling, born in Slutsk, Belarus, Jewish writer and humorist
  • Paul Splittorff, born in Evansville, Indiana, former Major League Baseball pitcher, attended college in Sioux City
  • Doris June Struble, pianist, singer, and dramatic reader in 1910s, 1920s
  • Morgan Taylor, athlete, set 400-meter hurdles Olympic record while winning gold medal in 1924, also NCAA champion, 1928 and 1932 Olympic bronze medalist
  • Gertrude Van Wagenen, Yale professor, pioneer in reproductive biology, primate research
  • Ted Waitt, co-founder of Gateway, Inc.
  • Brian Wansink, Former professor, discredited researcher and author of Mindless Eating: Why We Eat More Than We Think
  • Pierre Watkin, actor in radio, films and TV from 1930s-1950s; played editor Perry White in original Superman serials
  • Tony Watson, MLB pitcher for the Pittsburgh Pirates
  • Kathleen Weaver, writer and editor
  • Don Wengert, MLB pitcher from 1995 to 2001
  • Paul Zaeske, football player
  • R. Timothy Ziemer, born in Sioux City; Navy admiral, disease expert on the United States National Security Council

Images for kids

See also

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