Sioux Center, Iowa
Encyclopedia
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. The first report of Sioux Center's population from the 2010 census is 7,048. This represents a 17.4% increase since 2000.
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 1445 feet (440.4 m) 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 (16 km) 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.
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 per square mile (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, but this population continues to grow.
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.
. 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.
Other major local employers include the Interstates Companies, which specialize in the design and installation of electrical systems for industrial and commercial projects, and the Pella Corporation, which manufactures windows and employs approximately 400 people in the local plant.
Sioux Center continues to have rail service. The BNSF Railway
's main line runs parallel to U.S. Highway 75 through Sioux Center. There are several rail spurs and a BNSF equipment station. Grain is the main rail transported commodity.
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 Charter Township, Michigan
, leaving a conductor vacancy for the orchestra.
http://niso.dordt.edu/
. 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 enrollment (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 enjoy a friendly, yet heated, rivalry with the teams of Orange City. Dordt College and Northwestern College
(which is affiliated with the Reformed Church in America) compete in soccer, volleyball and basketball. Dordt College recently started a football program, fielding a Junior Varsity team in the fall of 2007 and a Varsity team in 2008. Maurice Orange City Floyd Valley High School (MOC-FV) competes spiritedly with Sioux Center Community in football, volleyball, basketball and others. MOC-FV is a small division 3A school and Sioux Center is a large division 2A school.
Sioux County, Iowa
-2010 census:The 2010 census recorded a population of 33,704 in the county, with a population density of . There were 12,279 housing units, of which 11,584 were occupied.-2000 census:...
, Iowa
Iowa
Iowa is a state located in the Midwestern United States, an area often referred to as the "American Heartland". It derives its name from the Ioway people, one of the many American Indian tribes that occupied the state at the time of European exploration. Iowa was a part of the French colony of New...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The population was 6,002 at the 2000 census; a special census in 2005 counted 6,327 residents. The first report of Sioux Center's population from the 2010 census is 7,048. This represents a 17.4% increase since 2000.
Geography
Sioux Center is located at 43°4′36"N 96°10′24"W (43.076546, -96.173214).According to the United States Census Bureau
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the city has a total area of 5.3 square miles (13.7 km²), all of it land.
Sioux Center is 1445 feet (440.4 m) 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 (16 km) 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.
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 6,002 people, 1,831 households, and 1,351 families residing in the city. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 1,134.9 people per square mile (438.1/km²). There were 1,933 housing units at an average density of 365.5 per square mile (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
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 0.67% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.67% of the population, but this population continues to grow.
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
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
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
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
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
Dutch people
The Dutch people are an ethnic group native to the Netherlands. They share a common culture and speak the Dutch language. Dutch people and their descendants are found in migrant communities worldwide, notably in Suriname, Chile, Brazil, Canada, Australia, South Africa, New Zealand, and the United...
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 agribusinessAgribusiness
In agriculture, agribusiness is a generic term for the various businesses involved in food production, including farming and contract farming, seed supply, agrichemicals, farm machinery, wholesale and distribution, processing, marketing, and retail sales....
. 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.
Other major local employers include the Interstates Companies, which specialize in the design and installation of electrical systems for industrial and commercial projects, and the Pella Corporation, which manufactures windows and employs approximately 400 people in the local plant.
Sioux Center continues to have rail service. The BNSF Railway
BNSF Railway
The BNSF Railway is a wholly owned subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway Inc., and is headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas. It is one of seven North American Class I railroads and the second largest freight railroad network in North America, second only to the Union Pacific Railroad, its primary...
's main line runs parallel to U.S. 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 HerderVern Den HerderVern Wayne Den Herder was an American football player who played twelve seasons for the Miami Dolphins of the NFL. He played in three Super Bowls for the Dolphins. In 1996 he was selected to the College Football Hall of Fame.-High school:Den Herder attended high school in Sioux Center, Iowa...
, player on the undefeated Miami DolphinsMiami DolphinsThe Miami Dolphins are a Professional football team based in the Miami metropolitan area in Florida. The team is part of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
NFL team of 1972 - Nancy Meendering Metcalf, American indoor volleyball player
- Delwin VriendDelwin VriendDelwin Vriend is a Canadian who was at the center of a landmark provincial and federal legal case, Vriend v. Alberta, concerning the inclusion of sexual orientation as a protected human right in Canada.-Early life:...
, LGBT rights icon (Born but not raised in Sioux Center)
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. The Sioux-perman triathlon, inaugurated in 2007, is held annually in early May.Culture
Sioux Center is home to the Northwest Iowa Symphony Orchestra. Their concert hall is the Dordt CollegeDordt College
Dordt College is a private, Christian, liberal arts college located in Sioux Center, Iowa. It was founded in 1955 and is affiliated with the Christian Reformed Church. The college name is a reference to the Synod of Dort....
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
Grand Valley State University
Grand Valley State University is a public liberal arts university located in Allendale, Michigan, United States. The university was established in 1960, and its main campus is situated on approximately west of Grand Rapids...
in Allendale Charter Township, Michigan
Allendale Charter Township, Michigan
Allendale Charter Township is a charter township of Ottawa County in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2010 census, the township population was 20,708...
, leaving a conductor vacancy for the orchestra.
http://niso.dordt.edu/
Religion
Sioux Center is traditionally a Reformed Church community, with five Christian Reformed churches and three RCA (Reformed Church of America) churches. There is also a Lutheran Congregation, Roman Catholic Congregation, and an Evangelical Free Church located in Sioux Center.Education
Sioux Center is the home of Dordt CollegeDordt College
Dordt College is a private, Christian, liberal arts college located in Sioux Center, Iowa. It was founded in 1955 and is affiliated with the Christian Reformed Church. The college name is a reference to the Synod of Dort....
. 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 enrollment (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 enjoy a friendly, yet heated, rivalry with the teams of Orange City. Dordt College and Northwestern College
Northwestern College (Iowa)
Northwestern College is a private Christian liberal arts college located in Orange City, Iowa. It is also known as Northwestern IA. It is affiliated with the Reformed Church in America . Northwestern began as an academy in 1882. It was then upgraded to junior college status in 1928...
(which is affiliated with the Reformed Church in America) compete in soccer, volleyball and basketball. Dordt College recently started a football program, fielding a Junior Varsity team in the fall of 2007 and a Varsity team in 2008. Maurice Orange City Floyd Valley High School (MOC-FV) competes spiritedly with Sioux Center Community in football, volleyball, basketball and others. MOC-FV is a small division 3A school and Sioux Center is a large division 2A school.
External links
- http://www.iowa.gov/educate
- http://www.siouxcenterchamber.com
- http://www.siouxcenter.org