Sioux Rapids, Iowa facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Sioux Rapids, Iowa
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Location of Sioux Rapids, Iowa
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| Country |  United States |
| State |  Iowa |
| County | Buena Vista |
| Incorporated | April 6, 1882 |
| Area | |
| • Total | 0.82 sq mi (2.12 km2) |
| • Land | 0.82 sq mi (2.12 km2) |
| • Water | 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2) |
| Elevation | 1,260 ft (384 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 748 |
| • Density | 912.20/sq mi (352.40/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP code |
50585
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| Area code(s) | 712 |
| FIPS code | 19-73425 |
| GNIS feature ID | 0461655 |
Sioux Rapids is a city in Buena Vista County, Iowa, United States. In 2020, 748 people lived there. The city gets its name from the fast-flowing parts, or "rapids," of the Little Sioux River.
Contents
History of Sioux Rapids
Sioux Rapids has a long and interesting history. In 1855, two early explorers, Lane and Ray, thought the area was perfect for settling. They built a cabin and stayed there through the winter.
A wealthy man from New York, William S. Lee, came to Sioux Rapids in 1858. He claimed a lot of land, about 60,000 acres, which was called "swamp land." He was supposed to build a courthouse and a bridge, but he never did. After many years, he lost his land claims in 1882.
Another important person was Fletcher Americus Blake. In 1868, he built the first wooden house in Sioux Rapids. He also built the first flour mill in the county with T.W. Twiford. This mill used the Little Sioux River for power and could also cut wood. Blake was the first postmaster and the first person from the county to be elected to the Iowa House of Representatives.
In 1869, David Evans and D. C. Thomas planned out the current town of Sioux Rapids. David Evans was a large landowner and a blacksmith. He worked with his son-in-law until 1881.
Sioux Rapids was chosen as the county seat for Buena Vista County in 1869. This meant it was the main town for government business. However, in 1876, the courthouse in Sioux Rapids burned down. Because of this, the county seat was moved to Storm Lake in 1878.
Geography
Sioux Rapids is located at 42°53′34″N 95°8′50″W / 42.89278°N 95.14722°W. It sits right on the Little Sioux River.
The city covers a total area of about 0.82 square miles (2.12 square kilometers). All of this area is land.
South of the town, you can find Gustafson Lake and Gabrielson Park. These are nice spots for outdoor activities.
Climate in Sioux Rapids
Sioux Rapids experiences a climate with warm summers and cold winters. The temperature can vary quite a bit throughout the year.
| Climate data for Sioux Rapids, Iowa (1991−2020 normals, extremes 1941−present) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °F (°C) | 68 (20) |
67 (19) |
87 (31) |
94 (34) |
103 (39) |
105 (41) |
107 (42) |
105 (41) |
101 (38) |
95 (35) |
81 (27) |
68 (20) |
107 (42) |
| Mean maximum °F (°C) | 46.9 (8.3) |
51.0 (10.6) |
69.5 (20.8) |
82.9 (28.3) |
89.5 (31.9) |
92.7 (33.7) |
91.6 (33.1) |
90.0 (32.2) |
88.0 (31.1) |
82.6 (28.1) |
66.9 (19.4) |
50.4 (10.2) |
95.0 (35.0) |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 25.3 (−3.7) |
29.9 (−1.2) |
43.1 (6.2) |
58.2 (14.6) |
69.9 (21.1) |
79.9 (26.6) |
81.9 (27.7) |
79.2 (26.2) |
73.6 (23.1) |
60.5 (15.8) |
43.9 (6.6) |
29.8 (−1.2) |
56.3 (13.5) |
| Daily mean °F (°C) | 16.7 (−8.5) |
21.4 (−5.9) |
33.9 (1.1) |
47.1 (8.4) |
59.1 (15.1) |
69.5 (20.8) |
72.1 (22.3) |
69.2 (20.7) |
62.4 (16.9) |
49.5 (9.7) |
34.5 (1.4) |
21.9 (−5.6) |
46.4 (8.0) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 8.2 (−13.2) |
12.8 (−10.7) |
24.7 (−4.1) |
36.0 (2.2) |
48.3 (9.1) |
59.1 (15.1) |
62.2 (16.8) |
59.3 (15.2) |
51.1 (10.6) |
38.5 (3.6) |
25.1 (−3.8) |
14.0 (−10.0) |
36.6 (2.6) |
| Mean minimum °F (°C) | −15.5 (−26.4) |
−10.2 (−23.4) |
1.0 (−17.2) |
19.1 (−7.2) |
32.6 (0.3) |
45.7 (7.6) |
49.9 (9.9) |
47.7 (8.7) |
33.7 (0.9) |
20.4 (−6.4) |
5.7 (−14.6) |
−9.6 (−23.1) |
−18.7 (−28.2) |
| Record low °F (°C) | −32 (−36) |
−32 (−36) |
−29 (−34) |
3 (−16) |
23 (−5) |
34 (1) |
41 (5) |
34 (1) |
18 (−8) |
9 (−13) |
−17 (−27) |
−27 (−33) |
−32 (−36) |
| Average precipitation inches (mm) | 0.62 (16) |
0.83 (21) |
1.76 (45) |
3.58 (91) |
4.19 (106) |
5.05 (128) |
3.29 (84) |
4.41 (112) |
3.39 (86) |
2.51 (64) |
1.42 (36) |
0.94 (24) |
31.99 (813) |
| Average snowfall inches (cm) | 8.0 (20) |
6.9 (18) |
6.5 (17) |
2.3 (5.8) |
0.3 (0.76) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.7 (1.8) |
3.8 (9.7) |
6.7 (17) |
35.2 (89) |
| Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in) | 5.7 | 6.4 | 7.1 | 9.7 | 12.2 | 10.9 | 8.2 | 8.1 | 7.7 | 8.0 | 5.8 | 6.0 | 95.8 |
| Average snowy days (≥ 0.1 in) | 6.1 | 5.4 | 3.4 | 1.2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.6 | 2.6 | 5.5 | 24.8 |
| Source: NOAA | |||||||||||||
Population of Sioux Rapids
The population of Sioux Rapids has changed over the years. Here's a look at how many people have lived in the city at different times:
| Historical populations | ||
|---|---|---|
| Year | Pop. | ±% |
| 1870 | 61 | — |
| 1880 | 181 | +196.7% |
| 1890 | 650 | +259.1% |
| 1900 | 1,005 | +54.6% |
| 1910 | 868 | −13.6% |
| 1920 | 1,080 | +24.4% |
| 1930 | 958 | −11.3% |
| 1940 | 1,056 | +10.2% |
| 1950 | 1,010 | −4.4% |
| 1960 | 962 | −4.8% |
| 1970 | 813 | −15.5% |
| 1980 | 897 | +10.3% |
| 1990 | 792 | −11.7% |
| 2000 | 720 | −9.1% |
| 2010 | 775 | +7.6% |
| 2020 | 748 | −3.5% |
| Source: and Iowa Data Center Source: |
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2020 Census Information
In 2020, there were 748 people living in Sioux Rapids. There were 317 households, which are groups of people living together in one home.
Most of the people in the city, about 88.0%, were White. About 10.8% of the population were Hispanic or Latino.
The average age in the city was 40.7 years old. About 27.5% of the people were under 20 years old.
2010 Census Information
In 2010, the city had 775 people and 325 households. The population density was about 945 people per square mile.
Most residents, 94.3%, were White. About 8.4% of the population identified as Hispanic or Latino.
About 26.7% of the people were under 18 years old. The average age was 40.8 years.
Fun and Culture
Sioux Rapids has a special event each year called "Tall Corn Days." It usually happens in late July. This festival includes a parade, a street dance, and a sweet corn meal. There's also a 5k run/walk, games for kids, and sports tournaments.
The town has several churches, including Lutheran, Baptist, and Methodist churches.
You can also find a historical museum and theater in Sioux Rapids. There's a swimming pool, an American Legion Post, and a community center. Many local businesses serve the town.
Education
The Sioux Central Community School District serves the children of Sioux Rapids. This district operates a school for students from kindergarten through 12th grade. The school is located south of Sioux Rapids on Highway 71.
Before this district was formed, Sioux Rapids had its own school. Over time, different school districts combined to create the current Sioux Central district.
Getting Around
U.S. Route 71 runs through Sioux Rapids. This highway also goes by the name Highway 10 in this area.
If you go north on Highway 71, you'll reach Spencer in about 18 miles. If you head south, you'll get to Storm Lake in about 20 miles. Sioux Rapids is also about 45 minutes south of Okoboji.
Famous People
- Guy Gabrielson (1891–1976) – A politician from New Jersey.
- Ira Noel Gabrielson (1889–1977) – A famous American naturalist (someone who studies nature) and entomologist (someone who studies insects).
- Fleta Jan Brown Spencer (1882-1938) – A composer and songwriter who was born near Sioux Rapids.
See also
In Spanish: Sioux Rapids (Iowa) para niños
