Storm Lake, Iowa
Storm Lake, Iowa | |
|---|---|
 | |
 Location of Storm Lake, Iowa | |
  Storm Lake, Iowa Location in the United States | |
| Coordinates: 42°38′37″N 95°12′7″W / 42.64361°N 95.20194°W | |
| 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) | |
| • 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 |
| Area code | 712 |
| FIPS code | 19-75630 |
| GNIS feature ID | 0462017 |
| Website | www |
Storm Lake is a city in and the county seat of Buena Vista County, Iowa, United States.[2] The population was 11,269 in the 2020 census, an increase from 10,076 in the 2000 census.[3] Located along the northern shore of the Storm Lake reservoir, the city is home to Buena Vista University, King's Pointe Waterpark Resort, the Living Heritage Tree Museum, and the Santa's Castle holiday attraction. It is the principal city of the Storm Lake micropolitan area.
History
Storm Lake's first European settler, Abner Bell, arrived in 1856, and the city was officially incorporated in 1873.[4] The city of Storm Lake is named for the lake where it is said a trapper experienced a severe storm.[5] An alternate story claims the lake took its name after two star-crossed lovers from opposed Native American bands paddled out for a secret rendezvous, only to be drowned as a sudden storm blew in.[6]
Geography
Storm Lake is located in the northwestern part of the state, along the north shore of its namesake Storm Lake, a glacial lake.[7][8]
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 4.09 square miles (10.59 km2), all land.[9]
Due to its location, Storm Lake is a popular campaign trail stop during presidential elections, having drawn visits from Barack Obama, Bill Clinton, Kamala Harris, and Bernie Sanders.[10][11][12][13]
Climate
| 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)[14][15][16] | |||||||||||||
Demographics
| 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 [17][3] Source: U.S. Decennial Census[18] | ||
2020 census
As of the 2020 U.S. Census, Storm Lake's population was estimated at 11,269, up from 10,600 for the 2010 Census and 10,078 in 2000. Citing steady growth and other sources, city officials suggest that an accurate population count would be 13,000 or more. Storm Lake is considered the most ethnically diverse city in Iowa, with over 60% of the population self identifying as non-white. [19] Storm Lake's diversity is the result of many factors, including refugee resettlement programs and an abundance of meat packing jobs drawing migrant workers to the town.[20][21]
The median home valuation is $142,000, median rent is $695 per month. Median household income is estimated at just under $49,000. The community has an estimated 250 businesses.
Economy
Tyson Foods operates a hog slaughterhouse, meat packing plant, and turkey processing plant in the city.[22][23]
Arts and culture
- Living Heritage Tree Museum.
- Santa's Castle, a seasonal display of antique holiday animation, housed in a former Victorian library.
- The Buena Vista County Historical Society operates a museum.
- A concert bandshell is located in Sunset Park.
- The annual Star Spangled Spectacular takes place on Independence Day, and features food vendors, live music shows, games, rides, a fireworks show, and The Parade of Nations, which acknowledges various cultures of the community.[24][25][26]
- Historical sites in Storm Lake include the Harker House and the Cobblestone Inn and Ballroom, which hosted performances by jazz musicians Louis Armstrong and Duke Ellington.[27]
Parks and recreation
- King's Pointe is a 100-room community-owned tourism resort located on the lakefront, with waterparks, banquet facilities and a restaurant.
- The city operates Sunrise Pointe, a nine-hole golf course.
- The city has five beach areas, and a recreation trail linking them. [28]
Education
The Storm Lake Community School District operates five local public schools, including a high school, a middle school, an elementary school, an early elementary school, and an early childhood center. As of the 2023 school year, the Storm Lake Community School District served 2,908 students. Spanish was the most spoken language within the school district, followed by English, Pohnpeian, Karen, and Lao. Additionally, 86.5% of students were identified as non-Caucasian. [29]
St. Mary's Catholic Church operates a private K-12 school system, St. Mary's High School.
Buena Vista University is located in Storm Lake. As of 2023, the university has 1,959 students on a 60-acre (24 ha) campus within Storm Lake. The city hosts a satellite campus for Iowa Central Community College, including an industrial training center established in 2021. [30]
Media
The community has a twice-weekly newspaper, the Storm Lake Times Pilot. The publication received the 2017 Pulitzer Prize in Editorial Writing for a series on the Iowa agricultural industry. [31] KAYL/KKIA radio serves the community, as well as a university radio station, KBVU. [32] A Spanish-language newspaper, La Prensa, also covers the area. [33]
Infrastructure
The Storm Lake Police Department provides law enforcement services to the city. The department employs 21 sworn officers, and two community services officers.[citation needed]
Storm Lake is served by Buena Vista Regional Medical Center, a 54-bed critical access hospital, and United Community Health Center.[34]
Notable people
- Nate Bjorkgren, basketball coach
- Janet Dailey, romance novelist
- Joe Decker (1947–2003), MLB player[35]
- Art Cullen, editor of the Storm Lake Times, won the 2017 Pulitzer Prize for editorial writing.
- George B. French, actor
- Edmund B. Gregory, Lieutenant General in the U.S. Army
- Julie Gutz (born 1926), All-American Girls Professional Baseball League player
- Gene Hackman, Oscar-winning actor, attended Storm Lake High School [36]
- Winton Hoch, Oscar-winning cinematographer
- Marjorie Holmes (1910–2002), author of hundreds of magazine articles and several novels, most notably Two From Galilee[37]
- Steve King, former US Congressman, born in Storm Lake before moving to Denison.
- Frederic O. MacCartney (1864-1903), Massachusetts socialist politician, graduate of Storm Lake High School
- Reno H. Sales (1876–1969), Chief Geologist of Anaconda Corporation, "father of mining geology"
References
- ^ "2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 16, 2022.
- ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
- ^ a b "2020 Census State Redistricting Data". census.gov. United states Census Bureau. Retrieved August 12, 2021.
- ^ "Storm Lake History". City of Storm Lake. Retrieved November 3, 2023.
- ^ History of Western Iowa, Its Settlement and Growth. Western Publishing Company. 1882. pp. 442.
- ^ "Storm Lake History". City of Storm Lake. Retrieved November 3, 2023.
- ^ Storm Lake (incl Little Storm Lake). Iowa Department of Natural Resources. Accessed 2 September 2023.
- ^ "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. October 25, 2007. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
- ^ "US Gazetteer files 2010". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on January 25, 2012. Retrieved May 11, 2012.
- ^ "Campaign Scrapbook: The Greening of Obama". The New York Times. Retrieved November 3, 2023.
- ^ "We Went All in: Inside Bernie Sanders' Plan to Win by Reaching Latino Voters". Time. Retrieved November 3, 2023.
- ^ "Bill Clinton Campaigns For Hillary in Iowa". Getty. Retrieved November 3, 2023.
- ^ "Harris Campaign Press Release - Kamala Harris' Iowa Campaign Announces Latinx Steering Committee". The American Presidency Project. Retrieved November 3, 2023.
- ^ "NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals Quick Access". NOAA. Retrieved November 30, 2022.
- ^ "U.S. Climate Normals Quick Access – Station: Storm Lake 2E, IA". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved February 18, 2023.
- ^ "NOAA Online Weather Data – NWS Sioux Falls". National Weather Service. Retrieved February 18, 2023.
- ^ "Data from the 2010 Census". State Data Center of Iowa. Retrieved June 24, 2011.
- ^ "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
- ^ "Quick Facts Storm Lake City, Iowa". US Census Bureau. Retrieved February 7, 2023.
- ^ "Embracing diverse populations helps Storm Lake grow". The Gazette. Retrieved August 20, 2022.
- ^ "They Crossed an Ocean to Butcher Pigs. It Was No American Dream". The New York Times. Retrieved January 1, 2023.
- ^ Papenfuss, Mary (May 29, 2020). "Tyson Pork Plant In Iowa Shuts After Hundreds Of Workers Test Positive for COVID-19". HuffPost. Retrieved May 29, 2020.
- ^ "Tyson Foods will shut US pork plant as more workers catch COVID-19". Reuters. May 28, 2020. Retrieved May 29, 2020 – via Fox Business.
- ^ "Schedule". Star Spangled Spectacular. Retrieved November 5, 2023.
- ^ "News Release: July 4 Big Parade Lineup" (PDF). Star Spangled Spectacular. Retrieved November 5, 2023.
- ^ "Parade of Nations". Salud. Retrieved November 5, 2023.
- ^ "Storm Lake Ballroom Will Enter Hall of Fame". Sioux City Journal. Retrieved November 3, 2023.
- ^ "Things to Do". City of Storm Lake. Retrieved November 5, 2023.
- ^ "District Information". Storm Lake Community School District. Retrieved February 7, 2023.
- ^ "Quick Facts". Buena Vista University. Retrieved November 3, 2023.
- ^ "Editorial Writing".
- ^ "About Us". Storm Lake Radio. Retrieved November 3, 2023.
- ^ "About". La Presna Iowa. Retrieved November 3, 2023.
- ^ "Buena Vista Regional Medical Center: BVRMC Quick Facts". Archived from the original on July 25, 2011. Retrieved July 1, 2010.
- ^ "Joe Decker". BASEBALL-Reference. Retrieved January 19, 2011.
- ^ "1945 Storm Lake High Yearbook". classmates.com. Retrieved November 5, 2023.
- ^ Longden, Tom (December 25, 2004). "Holmes, Marjorie". The Des Moines Register. Archived from the original on July 30, 2012. Retrieved September 10, 2011.
External links
Municipalities and communities of Buena Vista County, Iowa, United States | ||
|---|---|---|
| Cities |  | |
| Townships | ||
| Unincorporated communities | ||
| Ghost towns | ||
| International | |
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| National | |
