Sioux Center, Iowa

Infobox Settlement
official_name = Sioux Center, Iowa
settlement_type = City
nickname =
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mapsize = 250px
map_caption = Location of Sioux Center, Iowa


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subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_name =
subdivision_type1 = State
subdivision_name1 =
subdivision_type2 = County
subdivision_name2 = Sioux
government_footnotes =
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leader_title =
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unit_pref = Imperial
area_footnotes =

area_magnitude =
area_total_km2 = 13.7
area_land_km2 = 13.7
area_water_km2 = 0.0
area_total_sq_mi = 5.3
area_land_sq_mi = 5.3
area_water_sq_mi = 0.0

population_as_of = 2000
population_footnotes =
population_total = 6002
population_density_km2 = 438.2
population_density_sq_mi = 1134.9

timezone = Central (CST)
utc_offset = -6
timezone_DST = CDT
utc_offset_DST = -5
elevation_footnotes =
elevation_m = 446
elevation_ft = 1463
latd = 43 |latm = 4 |lats = 36 |latNS = N
longd = 96 |longm = 10 |longs = 24 |longEW = W

postal_code_type = ZIP code
postal_code = 51250
area_code = 712
blank_name = FIPS code
blank_info = 19-73290
blank1_name = GNIS feature ID
blank1_info = 0461652
website =
footnotes =

Sioux Center is a city in Sioux County, Iowa, United States. The population was 6,002 at the 2000 census; a special census in 2005 counted 6,327 residents. [U.S. Census Bureau [http://www.census.gov/field/www/specialcensus/files/iowa_2005.htm Iowa 2005] Viewed 1/21/2007]

Geography

Sioux Center is located at coor dms|43|4|36|N|96|10|24|W|city (43.076546, -96.173214)GR|1.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 5.3 square miles (13.7 km²), all of it land.

Sioux Center is 1,445 feet 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 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. North of town, the BNSF railroad has a very broad curve in which it crosses highway 75 twice in the space of one mile.

Demographics

As of the censusGR|2 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/sq mi (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.

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.

In the city the population was spread out with 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 agri-business. The quality of the farmland and its ability to produce high yields of corn and soybeans is the natural resource that propels the economy. The availability of these high quality grains leads to production of high quality beef and pork. 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.

Sioux Center continues to have rail service. The Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad's main line runs parallel to highway 75 through Sioux Center. There are several rail spurs and a BNSF equipment station. Grain is the main rail transported commodity.

Notable natives

*Vern Den Herder (1948), player on the undefeated Miami Dolphins NFL team of 1972

Annual events

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. Additionally, in 2007, the Sioux-perman triathlon was inaugurated, being held in early May.

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, Michigan, leaving a conductor vacancy for the orchestra. [http://niso.dordt.edu/]

Education

Sioux Center is the home of Dordt College. Dordt's 1300 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 nearly 1,000 students. 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 enrollement (over 425) in the fall of 2007. The elementary building and the middle school completed additional construction projects in the past year.

Sioux Center Christian School educates approx. 360 students grades K-8.

The sports teams of Dordt College and Sioux Center Community Schools (SCCS) enjoy a friendly, yet heated, rivalry with the teams of Orange City. Dordt College and Northwestern College, sponsored by sister Christian denominations the RCA and the CRC, compete in soccer, volleyball, and basketball. Dordt College recently started a football program, fielding a Junior Varsity team in the fall of 2007. Maurice Orange City Floyd Valley High School (MOC-FV) competes spiritedly with SCCS in football, volleyball, basketball and others. MOC-FV is a small division 3A school and SCCS is a large division 2A school.The fan base of the colleges tend to follow church affiliation, but the fan base of the public high schools more follows geography.

References

External links

* http://www.iowa.gov/educate
* http://www.siouxcenterchamber.com
* http://www.siouxcenter.org
* [http://homepage.mac.com/dale.landegent/PhotoAlbum4.html Sioux Center Panorama Project]