Storm Lake, Iowa facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Storm Lake, Iowa
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Buena Vista County Courthouse
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Location of Storm Lake, Iowa
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 Storm Lake, Iowa
Location in the United States
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| Country |  United States |
| State |  Iowa |
| County | Buena Vista |
| Incorporated | February 28, 1873 |
| Area | |
| • Total | 5.38 sq mi (13.92 km2) |
| • Land | 5.38 sq mi (13.92 km2) |
| • Water | 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2) |
| Elevation | 1,421 ft (433 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 11,269 |
| • Density | 2,096.17/sq mi (809.30/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP code |
50588
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| Area code(s) | 712 |
| FIPS code | 19-75630 |
| GNIS feature ID | 0462017 |
Storm Lake is a city in Iowa, United States. It is the main city of Buena Vista County. In 2020, about 11,269 people lived there. The city is on the northern shore of the Storm Lake.
Storm Lake is home to Buena Vista University. It also has fun places like King's Pointe Waterpark Resort. You can visit the Living Heritage Tree Museum and the Santa's Castle holiday attraction.
Contents
Discovering Storm Lake's Past
The first European settler, Abner Bell, arrived in Storm Lake in 1856. The city officially became a town in 1873. Before Europeans, the area was likely used by Native American tribes for fishing and hunting. The ancient Mill Creek culture also lived here centuries ago.
In the 1870s, a railroad builder named John Insley Blair planned out parts of Storm Lake. Around the same time, the Illinois Central Railroad built its tracks through the town.
How Storm Lake Got Its Name
There are two stories about how Storm Lake got its name. One story says a trapper had a very bad storm on the lake. Another story tells of two young lovers from different Native American groups. They went out on the lake for a secret meeting. A sudden storm came and they were sadly drowned.
Growth and Changes Over Time
The 1920s and 1930s were a time of growth for Storm Lake. The town did well even during the Great Depression, a tough economic period. In the 1940s, a temporary prisoner-of-war camp was set up in Storm Lake.
In 1956, the main building of Buena Vista University burned down. But a central brick archway was saved. It still stands today as a reminder of the past.
A Diverse and Welcoming Community
After the Vietnam War, many Hmong and Tai Dam refugees came to Storm Lake. Later, jobs in meat packing brought thousands of workers, mostly from Latin America. People from Micronesia also moved here.
Storm Lake is one of the few cities in the U.S. that has a voting place for Micronesian elections. In 2017, New York Times wrote about how immigration helped the community. Also that year, journalist Katie Couric visited Storm Lake. She talked to residents for a National Geographic story about the town's many cultures. A 2020 Fox News article also showed how immigration helped Storm Lake's economy.
Geography and Location
Storm Lake is in the northwest part of Iowa. It sits along the north shore of Storm Lake itself. This lake is a glacial lake, formed by glaciers long ago.
The city covers about 4.09 square miles (10.6 square kilometers) of land. There is no water area within the city limits.
Because of its location, Storm Lake is a popular stop for politicians during presidential elections. Famous visitors have included Barack Obama, Bill Clinton, Kamala Harris, and Bernie Sanders.
Storm Lake's Climate
Storm Lake has a climate with warm summers and cold winters. Here's a look at the weather:
| Climate data for Storm Lake, Iowa, 1991–2020 normals, extremes 1893–present | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °F (°C) | 66 (19) |
66 (19) |
85 (29) |
93 (34) |
107 (42) |
105 (41) |
109 (43) |
109 (43) |
101 (38) |
91 (33) |
78 (26) |
66 (19) |
109 (43) |
| Mean maximum °F (°C) | 46.3 (7.9) |
51.2 (10.7) |
69.3 (20.7) |
80.9 (27.2) |
88.2 (31.2) |
91.8 (33.2) |
92.6 (33.7) |
90.9 (32.7) |
88.5 (31.4) |
82.7 (28.2) |
65.9 (18.8) |
50.4 (10.2) |
94.5 (34.7) |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 25.8 (−3.4) |
30.2 (−1.0) |
43.4 (6.3) |
58.1 (14.5) |
69.1 (20.6) |
79.2 (26.2) |
82.3 (27.9) |
79.9 (26.6) |
74.1 (23.4) |
60.6 (15.9) |
44.3 (6.8) |
31.1 (−0.5) |
56.5 (13.6) |
| Daily mean °F (°C) | 17.3 (−8.2) |
21.7 (−5.7) |
34.2 (1.2) |
47.5 (8.6) |
59.3 (15.2) |
69.7 (20.9) |
73.0 (22.8) |
70.6 (21.4) |
63.3 (17.4) |
50.1 (10.1) |
35.5 (1.9) |
23.2 (−4.9) |
47.1 (8.4) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 8.8 (−12.9) |
13.3 (−10.4) |
25.1 (−3.8) |
36.9 (2.7) |
49.4 (9.7) |
60.2 (15.7) |
63.7 (17.6) |
61.4 (16.3) |
52.6 (11.4) |
39.6 (4.2) |
26.6 (−3.0) |
15.3 (−9.3) |
37.7 (3.2) |
| Mean minimum °F (°C) | −12.4 (−24.7) |
−7.9 (−22.2) |
2.8 (−16.2) |
20.6 (−6.3) |
34.1 (1.2) |
47.4 (8.6) |
52.0 (11.1) |
50.3 (10.2) |
36.9 (2.7) |
23.5 (−4.7) |
8.5 (−13.1) |
−6.0 (−21.1) |
−14.9 (−26.1) |
| Record low °F (°C) | −31 (−35) |
−34 (−37) |
−24 (−31) |
2 (−17) |
20 (−7) |
34 (1) |
42 (6) |
36 (2) |
22 (−6) |
2 (−17) |
−11 (−24) |
−29 (−34) |
−34 (−37) |
| Average precipitation inches (mm) | 0.77 (20) |
1.01 (26) |
1.74 (44) |
3.53 (90) |
4.87 (124) |
5.33 (135) |
3.83 (97) |
4.43 (113) |
2.96 (75) |
2.42 (61) |
1.75 (44) |
1.11 (28) |
33.75 (857) |
| Average snowfall inches (cm) | 6.7 (17) |
6.7 (17) |
6.4 (16) |
2.7 (6.9) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
trace | 0.4 (1.0) |
4.7 (12) |
8.8 (22) |
36.4 (91.9) |
| Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in) | 3.0 | 3.4 | 5.9 | 9.2 | 10.7 | 10.8 | 8.7 | 8.6 | 8.2 | 7.4 | 5.6 | 4.0 | 85.5 |
| Average snowy days (≥ 0.1 in) | 4.0 | 3.4 | 2.9 | 1.2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.2 | 2.0 | 4.0 | 17.7 |
| Source: NOAA (precip days, snow/snow days 1981–2010) | |||||||||||||
People of Storm Lake
| Historical population | ||
|---|---|---|
| Year | Pop. | ±% |
| 1880 | 1,034 | — |
| 1890 | 1,682 | +62.7% |
| 1900 | 2,169 | +29.0% |
| 1910 | 2,428 | +11.9% |
| 1920 | 3,658 | +50.7% |
| 1930 | 4,157 | +13.6% |
| 1940 | 5,274 | +26.9% |
| 1950 | 6,954 | +31.9% |
| 1960 | 7,728 | +11.1% |
| 1970 | 8,591 | +11.2% |
| 1980 | 8,814 | +2.6% |
| 1990 | 8,769 | −0.5% |
| 2000 | 10,076 | +14.9% |
| 2010 | 10,600 | +5.2% |
| 2020 | 11,269 | +6.3% |
| Iowa Data Center Source: U.S. Decennial Census |
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In 2020, Storm Lake had about 11,269 people. This was more than the 10,600 people in 2010. City officials believe the real number might be even higher, around 13,000.
Storm Lake is known for being very diverse. Over 60% of its people identify as non-white. This is a big change from 2000, when 80% of people identified as white. Many people are of Latin-American origin, mostly Mexican.
The average home value is about $142,000. The average rent is $695 per month. The average household income is nearly $49,000. The community has about 250 businesses.
Storm Lake is one of two cities in Iowa where English is not the main language spoken at home.
Storm Lake's Economy
Tyson Foods has a large meat processing plant in Storm Lake. It processes pork and turkey. In 2020, this plant employed over 2,500 workers. It produced about 3.5% of all pork in the U.S. The plant opened in 1935. It was later bought by Tyson in 2001.
Arts and Culture in Storm Lake
Storm Lake has many interesting places and events:
- The Living Heritage Tree Museum is located here.
- Santa's Castle is a special holiday display. It has old holiday animations and is in a former Victorian library.
- The Buena Vista County Historical Society runs a museum.
- Sunset Park has a concert bandshell for music shows.
- The Witter Gallery shows art from local and other artists. It also offers free art classes.
- The annual Star Spangled Spectacular happens on Independence Day. It has food, live music, games, rides, fireworks, and a "Parade of Nations" that celebrates the community's diverse cultures.
- Historic sites include the Harker House and the Old Storm Lake High School. The Cobblestone Inn and Ballroom once hosted famous jazz musicians like Louis Armstrong and Duke Ellington.
Parks and Fun Activities
- King's Pointe is a resort on the lakefront. It has 100 rooms, waterparks, and a restaurant. It is owned by the community.
- The city has Sunrise Pointe, a nine-hole golf course.
- There are five beach areas in the city. A recreation trail connects them all.
Education in Storm Lake
The Storm Lake Community School District runs five public schools:
- A high school
- A middle school
- An elementary school
- An early elementary school
- An early childhood center
In 2023, the district served 2,908 students. Spanish was the most spoken language. Other languages included English, Pohnpeian, Karen, and Lao.
St. Mary's Catholic Church also has a private school system for K-12 students, St. Mary's High School, which started in 1912.
Buena Vista University is in Storm Lake. In 2023, it had 1,959 students on its 60-acre campus. Iowa Central Community College also has a campus here. It includes an industrial training center that opened in 2021.
Media and News
Storm Lake has a newspaper called the Storm Lake Times Pilot. It comes out twice a week. In 2017, it won a 2017 Pulitzer Prize for its articles about Iowa's farming industry. The city also has radio stations like KAYL, KKIA, and the university station KBVU. There is also a Spanish-language newspaper called La Prensa.
City Services
The Storm Lake Police Department keeps the city safe. It has 21 police officers and two community services officers.
Storm Lake is served by Buena Vista Regional Medical Center. This is a hospital with 54 beds. The United Community Health Center also provides healthcare.
The Storm Lake Municipal Airport serves the city for air travel.
Notable People from Storm Lake
Many interesting people have connections to Storm Lake:
- Nate Bjorkgren, a basketball coach.
- Janet Dailey, a romance novelist.
- Joe Decker (1947–2003), a former MLB player.
- Art Cullen, editor of the Storm Lake Times, who won a Pulitzer Prize.
- Mary Foley Benson (1905–1992), an artist, illustrator, and WWII pilot.
- George B. French, an actor.
- Edmund B. Gregory, a Lieutenant General in the U.S. Army.
- Julie Gutz (born 1926), an All-American Girls Professional Baseball League player.
- Gene Hackman, an Oscar-winning actor, attended Storm Lake High School.
- Winton Hoch, an Oscar-winning cinematographer.
- Marjorie Holmes (1910–2002), an author of many articles and novels.
- Steve King, a former US Congressman, was born in Storm Lake.
- Frederic O. MacCartney (1864-1903), a Massachusetts politician.
- Reno H. Sales (1876–1969), known as the "father of mining geology."
Images for kids
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Santa's Castle holiday attraction
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See also
In Spanish: Storm Lake (Iowa) para niños
