STORM LAKE, IA

Storm Lake is a city in Buena Vista County, Iowa, United States. The population was 11,269 in the 2020 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, meat packing plant, and turkey processing plant in the city.

History

Storm Lake was incorporated in 1873. The city of Storm Lake is named from the lake where it is said a trapper experienced a severe storm.

Geography

Storm Lake is located in the northwestern part of the state, near its namesake Storm Lake.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , all land.

Demographics

2010 census

As of the census of 2010, there were 10,600 people, 3,536 households, and 2,280 families residing in the city. The population density was . There were 3,791 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the city was 68.4% White, 4.4% African American, 0.4% Native American, 9.8% Asian, 0.9% Pacific Islander, 13.6% from other races, and 2.4% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 36.1% of the population.

There were 3,536 households, of which 36.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.8% were married couples living together, 11.2% had a female householder with no husband present, 5.5% had a male householder with no wife present, and 35.5% were non-families. 30.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.75 and the average family size was 3.44.

The median age in the city was 30.8 years. 25.9% of residents were under the age of 18; 16.5% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 23.5% were from 25 to 44; 21.7% were from 45 to 64; and 12.5% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 50.1% male and 49.9% female.

2000 census

As of the census 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/km). There were 3,706 housing units at an average density of 927.3 per square mile (357.7/km). 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.

Age spread 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, and females of $20,869. 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.

Education

The Storm Lake Community School District operates local public schools, including a high school, a middle school (grades 5–8), an elementary school (grades PK-4), and an early childhood center. The new elementary school opened in 2009 and replaced four separate elementary buildings. As of the 2008–2009 school year, the Storm Lake Community School District served 2028 students.

St. Mary's Catholic Church operates its own private K-12 school system, including St. Mary's High School.

Storm Lake is also home to Buena Vista University.

The school district has an increasingly diverse community. Since 1994–95, enrollment increased, its racial makeup changed from 82% white to 31% white, and ELL students increased from 319 to 1110. Approximately 67% of students receive free or reduced lunch and 12% receive special education services. Over 50% of students are hispanic, and over 10% are Asian. Most students come from California or rural areas of Mexico because of new job opportunities. Because 40% of the district's students are from migrant families, the schools struggle to meet No Child Left Behind Act’s requirements. 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 produced 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 21 sworn officers, 2 community services officer.

The SLPD patrol division has 15 officers. Each patrol is supervised by a lieutenant. These officers patrol in a patrol vehicle, on bike, or on foot. There is 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 an investigative division, administrative division, narcotics unit, and a SWAT team.

The department was also honored by the VERA Institute for best practices in a multilingual community.

Health care

Storm Lake is served by Buena Vista Regional Medical Center, a 54-bed critical access hospital. The city also hosts Buena Vista County Public Health Department.

Arts and culture

The Living Heritage Tree Museum is located on the shores of Storm Lake.

Media

The Storm Lake Times, founded in 1990, is a twice-weekly newspaper based in Storm Lake. Editor Art Cullen received the 2017 Pulitzer Prize in Editorial Writing for a series of editorials on dark money in corporate agriculture in Iowa.

Notable people