Storm Lake, Iowa
Encyclopedia
Storm Lake is a city in Buena Vista County
, Iowa
, United States
. The population was 10,600 in the 2010 census, an increase from 10,076 in the 2000 census. It is the county seat
of Buena Vista County
. Storm Lake is home to Buena Vista University
, originally Buena Vista College. Tyson Foods
operates a large hog slaughterhouse and meat packing plant here, and Sara Lee has a turkey processing plant. The financial company MetaBank
is based in Storm Lake.
. According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 4 square miles (10.4 km²), all of it land.
The racial makeup of the city in the 2010 census was 68.4% White American
, 6.5% African American
, 0.4% Native Americans in the United States
, 9.8% Asian American
, 0.9% Native Hawaiians
or Pacific Islander American
, 13.6% other races and 1.2% were from two or more races. Of those 36.1% were Hispanic and Latino Americans
.
of 2000, there were 10,076 people, 3,466 households, and 2,207 families residing in the city. The population density
was 2,521.2 people per square mile (972.6/km²). There were 3,706 housing units at an average density of 927.3 per square mile (357.7/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 79.68% White, 0.53% African American, 0.17% Native American, 7.82% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 9.55% from other races
, and 2.23% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 21.05% of the population.
There were 3,466 households out of which 32.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.6% were married couples
living together, 8.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.3% were non-families. 29.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.57 and the average family size was 3.20.
In the city the population was spread out with 24.1% under the age of 18, 18.0% from 18 to 24, 24.9% from 25 to 44, 17.1% from 45 to 64, and 15.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females there were 98.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.6 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $35,270, and the median income for a family was $42,236. Males had a median income of $27,321 versus $20,869 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $15,150. About 8.0% of families and 11.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 14.1% of those under age 18 and 7.9% of those age 65 or over.
The school district has an increasingly diverse community. As of the 2008-2009 school year the Storm Lake Community School District served 2028 students with four elementary schools (PK-4), one middle school (5-8), and one high school (9-12). Since 1994-95, the school has experienced an increase in enrollment and the racial makeup of the district has changed from 82% white to 31% white and the number of ELL students has increased from 319 to 1110. Approximately 67% of the district’s students receive free or reduced lunch and 12% receive special education services. In the school district, over 50% of students are hispanic
, and over 10% are Asian
. Most students are coming from California
and rural areas of Mexico
because of new job opportunities. And because 40% of the district's students are migrant, the schools struggle to match needs set by the No Child Left Behind Act
. However, the school district is known throughout the state for its excellence in fine arts. In 2003, the Iowa Music Educators Association (IMEA) awarded Storm Lake the Exemplary Music Program of the year. In 2006, Buena Vista University
created a documentary about the Storm Lake music program and its accomplishments called "Notes: A Noteworthy Story of Music." Storm Lake schools also excel in art, speech, and the National History Day competition.
The department is headquartered at 401 E. Milwaukee Ave., Storm Lake, IA 50588.
The SLPD patrol division has 13 officers. Each patrol is supervised by a lieutenant. These officers patrol in a patrol vehicle, on bike, or on foot. There is currently one K9 officer who assists the department as well as partner agencies with narcotics detection, suspect apprehension, evidence and subject searches, building searches, and crowd control.
The department also has a investigative division, administrative division, narcotics unit, and a SWAT team.
The police department also has a park ranger program. These rangers patrol the parks around the lake in the city. They serve as the eyes and ears of the department in these areas and report any crimes. They also provide backup to police officers in the area.
The department was also honored by the VERA Institute for best practices in a multilingual community.
Storm Lake Police Department
, a 54-bed critical access hospital.
Buena Vista County, Iowa
-2010 census:The 2010 census recorded a population of 20,260 in the county, with a population density of . There were 8,237 housing units, of which 7,522 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 10,600 in the 2010 census, an increase from 10,076 in the 2000 census. It is the county seat
County seat
A county seat is an administrative center, or seat of government, for a county or civil parish. The term is primarily used in the United States....
of Buena Vista County
Buena Vista County, Iowa
-2010 census:The 2010 census recorded a population of 20,260 in the county, with a population density of . There were 8,237 housing units, of which 7,522 were occupied.-2000 census:...
. Storm Lake is home to Buena Vista University
Buena Vista University
Buena Vista University is a private 4-year college located in Storm Lake, Iowa. Founded in 1891 as Buena Vista College, it is affiliated with the Presbyterian Church. The university's campus is situated on the shores of Storm Lake, a natural lake...
, originally Buena Vista College. Tyson Foods
Tyson Foods
Tyson Foods, Inc. is a multinational corporation based in Springdale, Arkansas, that operates in the food industry. The company is the world's second largest processor and marketer of chicken, beef, and pork only behind Brazilian JBS S.A., and annually exports the largest percentage of beef out of...
operates a large hog slaughterhouse and meat packing plant here, and Sara Lee has a turkey processing plant. The financial company MetaBank
MetaBank
MetaBank is a savings bank headquartered in Storm Lake, Iowa. Meta Financial Group, Inc. , is the holding company for MetaBank, Meta Payment Systems, and Meta Trust Company®...
is based in Storm Lake.
Geography
Storm Lake is located in the northwestern part of the state, near its namesake Storm LakeStorm Lake
-Lakes:*Storm Lake , a lake in Boulder County, Colorado*Little Storm Lake , a lake in Boulder County, Colorado*Storm Lake , a lake in Idaho County, Idaho*Storm Peak Lake, a lake in Valley County, Idaho...
. 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 4 square miles (10.4 km²), all of it land.
Demographics
2010 census
The 2010 census recorded a population of 10,600 in the city, with a population density of . There were 3,791 housing units, of which 3,536 were occupied.The racial makeup of the city in the 2010 census was 68.4% White American
White American
White Americans are people of the United States who are considered or consider themselves White. The United States Census Bureau defines White people as those "having origins in any of the original peoples of Europe, the Middle East, or North Africa...
, 6.5% African American
African American
African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
, 0.4% Native Americans in the United States
Native Americans in the United States
Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples in North America within the boundaries of the present-day continental United States, parts of Alaska, and the island state of Hawaii. They are composed of numerous, distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of which survive as...
, 9.8% Asian American
Asian American
Asian Americans are Americans of Asian descent. The U.S. Census Bureau definition of Asians as "Asian” refers to a person having origins in any of the original peoples of the Far East, Southeast Asia, or the Indian subcontinent, including, for example, Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Japan,...
, 0.9% Native Hawaiians
Native Hawaiians
Native Hawaiians refers to the indigenous Polynesian people of the Hawaiian Islands or their descendants. Native Hawaiians trace their ancestry back to the original Polynesian settlers of Hawaii.According to the U.S...
or Pacific Islander American
Pacific Islander American
Pacific Islander Americans, also known as Oceanian Americans, are residents of the United States with original ancestry from Oceania. They represent the smallest racial group counted in the United States census of 2000. They numbered 874,000 people or 0.3 percent of the United States population...
, 13.6% other races and 1.2% were from two or more races. Of those 36.1% were Hispanic and Latino Americans
Hispanic and Latino Americans
Hispanic or Latino Americans are Americans with origins in the Hispanic countries of Latin America or in Spain, and in general all persons in the United States who self-identify as Hispanic or Latino.1990 Census of Population and Housing: A self-designated classification for people whose origins...
.
2000 census
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 10,076 people, 3,466 households, and 2,207 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 2,521.2 people per square mile (972.6/km²). There were 3,706 housing units at an average density of 927.3 per square mile (357.7/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 79.68% White, 0.53% African American, 0.17% Native American, 7.82% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 9.55% 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 2.23% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 21.05% of the population.
There were 3,466 households out of which 32.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.6% 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, 8.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.3% were non-families. 29.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.57 and the average family size was 3.20.
In the city the population was spread out with 24.1% under the age of 18, 18.0% from 18 to 24, 24.9% from 25 to 44, 17.1% from 45 to 64, and 15.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females there were 98.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.6 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $35,270, and the median income for a family was $42,236. Males had a median income of $27,321 versus $20,869 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 $15,150. About 8.0% of families and 11.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 14.1% of those under age 18 and 7.9% of those age 65 or over.
Education
Storm Lake has one main school district which is composed of 1 high school, 1 middle school (grades 5-8), and 1 elementary school (grades K-4), and an early childhood center. The new elementary school opened in 2009 and replaced four separate elementary buildings. There is also a private K-12 school district system run by St. Mary's Catholic Church.The school district has an increasingly diverse community. As of the 2008-2009 school year the Storm Lake Community School District served 2028 students with four elementary schools (PK-4), one middle school (5-8), and one high school (9-12). Since 1994-95, the school has experienced an increase in enrollment and the racial makeup of the district has changed from 82% white to 31% white and the number of ELL students has increased from 319 to 1110. Approximately 67% of the district’s students receive free or reduced lunch and 12% receive special education services. In the school district, over 50% of students are hispanic
Hispanic
Hispanic is a term that originally denoted a relationship to Hispania, which is to say the Iberian Peninsula: Andorra, Gibraltar, Portugal and Spain. During the Modern Era, Hispanic sometimes takes on a more limited meaning, particularly in the United States, where the term means a person of ...
, and over 10% are Asian
Asian people
Asian people or Asiatic people is a term with multiple meanings that refers to people who descend from a portion of Asia's population.- Central Asia :...
. Most students are coming from California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
and rural areas of Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
because of new job opportunities. And because 40% of the district's students are migrant, the schools struggle to match needs set by the No Child Left Behind Act
No Child Left Behind Act
The No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 is a United States Act of Congress concerning the education of children in public schools.NCLB was originally proposed by the administration of George W. Bush immediately after he took office...
. However, the school district is known throughout the state for its excellence in fine arts. In 2003, the Iowa Music Educators Association (IMEA) awarded Storm Lake the Exemplary Music Program of the year. In 2006, Buena Vista University
Buena Vista University
Buena Vista University is a private 4-year college located in Storm Lake, Iowa. Founded in 1891 as Buena Vista College, it is affiliated with the Presbyterian Church. The university's campus is situated on the shores of Storm Lake, a natural lake...
created a documentary about the Storm Lake music program and its accomplishments called "Notes: A Noteworthy Story of Music." Storm Lake schools also excel in art, speech, and the National History Day competition.
Emergency services
The Storm Lake Police Department (SLPD) provides law enforcement services to the city of Storm Lake, Iowa. The department currently consists of 19 sworn officers, 2 community services officer, and 2 park rangers. The department responded to 51,148 calls of service in 2009. The current Chief is Mark Prosser.The department is headquartered at 401 E. Milwaukee Ave., Storm Lake, IA 50588.
The SLPD patrol division has 13 officers. Each patrol is supervised by a lieutenant. These officers patrol in a patrol vehicle, on bike, or on foot. There is currently one K9 officer who assists the department as well as partner agencies with narcotics detection, suspect apprehension, evidence and subject searches, building searches, and crowd control.
The department also has a investigative division, administrative division, narcotics unit, and a SWAT team.
The police department also has a park ranger program. These rangers patrol the parks around the lake in the city. They serve as the eyes and ears of the department in these areas and report any crimes. They also provide backup to police officers in the area.
The department was also honored by the VERA Institute for best practices in a multilingual community.
Storm Lake Police Department
Storm Lake Police Department (Iowa)
The Storm Lake Police Department provides law enforcement services Storm Lake, Iowa. The department currently consists of 19 sworn officers, 2 community services officer, and 2 park rangers. The department responded to over 51,000 calls of service in 2010. The current Chief is Mark Prosser...
Health care
Storm Lake is served by Buena Vista Regional Medical CenterBuena Vista Regional Medical Center
Buena Vista Regional Medical Center , formerly Buena Vista County Hospital, is a 35-bed rural community critical access hospital located in Storm Lake, Iowa. BVRMC is an accredited facility with a 50+ year history of improving the health of the people and the community they serve. BVRMC is a public...
, a 54-bed critical access hospital.
Other information
Storm Lake was mentioned in an episode during the second season of M*A*S*H, in which Radar sold shoes from the Style Right Shoe Company. The fictional company was based in Storm Lake.Notable people
- Joe DeckerJoe DeckerGeorge Henry "Joe" Decker, Jr. was a Major League Baseball pitcher for the Chicago Cubs , Minnesota Twins and Seattle Mariners . He was born in Storm Lake, Iowa....
(1947–2003) Major League BaseballMajor League BaseballMajor League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
player - Janet DaileyJanet DaileyJanet Anne Haradon Dailey is an American author of numerous romance novels as Janet Dailey . Her novels have been translated into nineteen languages and have sold over 300 million copies worldwide....
, Romance novelist - George B. FrenchGeorge B. FrenchGeorge B. French was an American film actor. He appeared in 92 films between 1915 and 1943.He was born in Storm Lake, Iowa and died in Hollywood, California from a heart attack.-Selected filmography:...
, actor - Edmund B. GregoryEdmund B. GregoryEdmund Bristol Gregory was a Lieutenant General in the United States Army.-Early life and education:Gregory was born at Storm Lake, Iowa, on July 4, 1882....
, Lieutenant GeneralLieutenant GeneralLieutenant General is a military rank used in many countries. The rank traces its origins to the Middle Ages where the title of Lieutenant General was held by the second in command on the battlefield, who was normally subordinate to a Captain General....
in the United States ArmyUnited States ArmyThe United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services... - Gene HackmanGene HackmanEugene Allen "Gene" Hackman is an American actor and novelist.Nominated for five Academy Awards, winning two, Hackman has also won three Golden Globes and two BAFTAs in a career that spanned five decades. He first came to fame in 1967 with his performance as Buck Barrow in Bonnie and Clyde...
, Actor resided in 1945. Reference Storm Lake "Breeze" yearbook 1945 10th grade - Winton HochWinton HochWinton C. Hoch, A.S.C. in Santa Monica was originally a lab technician who contributed to the development of Technicolor before becoming a cinematographer in 1936. His understanding of the colour process quickly led to him being hailed as one of Hollywood's premier colour cinematographers...
, cinematographerCinematographerA cinematographer is one photographing with a motion picture camera . The title is generally equivalent to director of photography , used to designate a chief over the camera and lighting crews working on a film, responsible for achieving artistic and technical decisions related to the image... - Marjorie Holmes (1910–2002) author of hundreds of magazine articles and several novels most notable Two From Galilee
External links
- Storm Lake Portal style website City government, Chamber of Commerce, Business and more
- School district website
- Storm Lake Times
- Storm Lake Fishing
- City Data Comprehensive Statistical Data and more about Storm Lake, Iowa