Sioux City, IA

With a population of more than 80,000 and twice recognized as an All-America City by the prestigious National Civic League, Sioux City is a bustling community nestled on the banks of the Missouri River. Sioux City functions as a center for tourism, business, and industry for the tri-state area that includes Iowa, Nebraska and South Dakota.

ECONOMY AND INDUSTRIES

Home to a diverse labor pool, Sioux City was recognized by the U.S. Department of Commerce for its 6 percent increase in per capita income in 2007, placing it among the top 10 cities with income growth. This rate almost doubles the growth Sioux City saw in the previous year. The city is a regional hub for business, employment, industry, medical care, retail trade and tourism.

Gateway, a computer manufacturer, was originally founded in Sioux City. The company, which originally was called Gateway 2000, is now headquartered in Irvine, Calif. Gateway still has corporate offices and production facilities in North Sioux City, S.D.

Top Sioux City employers include the 185th Refueling Wing, Aalfs Manufacturing, Besser International Pipe Machinery (McCracken/Hydrotile Divisions), Chesterman Company, Great West Casualty Company, Jolly Time Pop Corn, Palmer Candy Company, Mercy Medical Center, and Terra Industries Inc.

NEIGHBORHOODS AND DISTRICTS

Sioux City is home to several distinct neighborhoods:

• Indian Hills: This is a somewhat newer neighborhood, with most of the homes built beginning in the 1960s.
• Country Club: Country Club extends to the Plymouth County line and is the most affluent neighborhood in Sioux City.
• Leeds: This area of Sioux City is almost entirely residential and is found northeast of downtown, near Floyd Boulevard. Just FYI, all the north-south streets in the Leeds area are named after U.S. presidents.
• Morningside: Morningside is the southeast portion of Sioux City and has a nice mix of residential homes and businesses. Morningside College and the Southern Hills shopping area, which includes the Southern Hills Mall and several smaller strip malls, are located in Morningside. In addition, Sunnybrook Place and the Lakeport Commons shopping areas are also located within the Morningside neighborhood.
• Riverside: Located west of West High School, Riverside is so named because it runs along the banks of the Big Sioux River. Considered a blue-collar neighborhood, Riverside is home to the land purchased by Theophiel Bruguier, Sioux City's first white settler.

EDUCATION

Sioux City has a strong focus on education. From continuing education for the existing workforce to degrees from accredited and respected educational institutes, Sioux City has something to offer every student. This city is home to several colleges and a community college:

• Briar Cliff University is a private Catholic liberal arts university offering four-year academic and pre-professional programs in more than 30 fields of study.
• Morningside College is a private, four-year coeducational institution affiliated with the United Methodist Church. The college enrolls more than 1,150 full-time students.
• Saint Luke's College is a health-system affiliated institute offering associate degrees in nursing, radiologic technology and respiratory care as well as certificate programs in medical technology and phlebotomy.
• Western Iowa Technical Community College offers more than 70 programs in liberal arts and career and technical areas.
• Tri-State Graduate Center is a consortium of colleges and universities in Iowa, Nebraska and South Dakota that deliver graduate-level programs.

ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT

• Sioux City focused on becoming a cultural center in the 1990s. With a 2003 renovation, the Historic Auditorium was combined with the Tyson Events Center. The construction was done to blend the traditional aspects of the well-known and beloved auditorium with contemporary styling designed to attract new and larger events. In the recent years, Sioux City residents and visitors have enjoyed Ozzy Ozbourne, Carrie Underwood, Trace Adkins and the Blue Man Group, among many other performances.
• Orpheum Live began as a traditional movie theater and has evolved into a theater for live performances. The theater has hosted Broadway shows such as Ain't Misbehavin', Stomp, and Dirty Rotten Scoundrels and well-known performers such as Bill Cosby, Sheryl Crow, David Copperfield and B.B. King. It's easy to see why the Orpheum is helping to revitalize an otherwise ailing downtown.
• For music lovers, the Sioux City Symphony Orchestra boasts decades as the top performing arts organization in the state of Iowa. With events that include in-school educational programs, school day concerts, family concerts, and formal concerts, the Sioux City Symphony Orchestra puts on more than 200 performances each year. Another must-see for both residents and visitors is the Sioux City Art Center. The art center was founded in 1938 as a Works Progress Administration and is one of only four such facilities in Iowa to have remained open to the public without interruption. Collections include works from Bridget Riley, Ernst Trova, John Steuart Curry, and William Bailey. It also boasts a main stage that has hosted acts such as Tonic Sol-fa, Jeff Quinn the Magician, Team Rootberry, and the Sweeney Family Band.

EVENTS

Each Labor Day weekend, the annual Artsplash festival takes place at the Anderson Dance Pavilion on the riverfront and draws about 90,000 visitors to see showcased artwork and performing arts, and sample unique foods. Other Sioux City events include:

• Gateways Saturday in the Park Festival: This premier music festival is located in the Grandview Park Bandshell and provides more than 10 hours of music along with a beer garden, a fun run, crafts, and food.
• River-Cade Festival: For more than 40 years, River-Cade has kicked off with a parade and offered different special events annually. This festival boasts a large carnival held on the banks of the Missouri River.
• Municipal Band: The Municipal Band plays free concerts at the Grandview Park Bandshell each Sunday night during the summer.

FOR VISITORS

With its hundreds of slot machines and dozens of gaming tables, the Argosy Casino is a popular destination while visiting Sioux City. This riverboat offers 36,000 square feet of gambling on three levels as well as dining options from the Outfitters Grill. Visitors can also explore:

• Anderson Dance Pavilion: This pavilion has a covered dance floor and is home to many events, including Artsplash.
• Dorothy Pecaut Nature Center: With several miles of hiking trails, an outdoor amphitheatre, and spacious classrooms, the Dorothy Pecaut Nature Center educates in a beautifully scenic setting.
• Flight 232 Memorial: This memorial showcases the heroism of rescuers after the crash of United Flight 232 in 1989, in which 110 of the 285 passengers and one of the 11 crew members lost their lives as the plane made an emergency landing at the Sioux City Airport.
• Sergeant Floyd Monument: Located on the bluff just off U.S. Highway 75 and Glenn Avenue, this obelisk monument stands one hundred feet tall and was the first historic landmark registered by the U.S. government in 1960. It honors Charles Floyd who died while a member of the 1804 Lewis and Clark expedition.