Storm Lake's first European settler, Abner Bell, arrived in 1856, and the city was officially incorporated in 1873.[4] Though early settlers found no natives permanently occupying the land, the area around the lake was likely used for fishing and hunting by tribes traveling from the north. Centuries prior to European colonization, the area was home to the Mill Creek indigenous culture.[5] Railroad magnate John Insley Blair platted out land in Storm Lake in the 1870s. During the same decade, the Illinois Central Railroad was constructed through the town.[6]
The city of Storm Lake is named for the lake where it is said a trapper experienced a severe storm.[7] 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.[8]
The 1920s and 1930s saw economic and industrial growth, with the town remaining relatively unaffected by the Great Depression.[9] During the 1940s, a prisoner-of-war camp was temporarily established in Storm Lake.[10] In 1956, the main building of the Buena Vista University campus burned down. The central brick archway was salvaged and remains standing.[11]
Storm Lake was a landing place of Hmong and Tai Dam refugees following the Vietnam War.[12] Meat packing jobs have drawn thousands of migrant workers, predominantly from Latin America.[13] Work vouchers and other factors have also drawn immigration from Micronesia. Storm Lake is currently one of ten cities in the mainland United States to host a polling location for Micronesian elections.[14] A 2017 New York Times profile analyzed the positive effects of immigration on the Storm Lake community.[15] Also that year, journalist Katie Couric interviewed Storm Lake residents for a National Geographic story on the town’s diversity.[16] A 2020 article in Fox News highlighted Storm Lake as an example of the positive economic impacts of immigration on rural communities.[17]
Geography
Storm Lake is located in the northwestern part of the state, along the north shore of its namesake Storm Lake, a glacial lake.[18][19]
Iowa Data Center[28][3] Source: U.S. Decennial Census[29]
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,[30] a dramatic change from 80% identifying as white in the 2000 census, although 21% were of Latin-American origin, of which almost all were Mexican.[31]
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.
Tyson Foods operates a hog slaughterhouse, meat packing plant, and turkey processing plant in the city. As of 2020, the plant employed over 2,500 workers and accounted for about 3.5% of US pork production.[32][33] The plant originally opened in 1935 and was purchased by Hygrade Food Products in 1952. In 1982, it was sold to Iowa Beef Processors, which was subsequently acquired by Tyson in 2001.[34]
Santa's Castle, a seasonal display of antique holiday animation, is housed in a former Victorian library.
The Buena Vista County Historical Society operates a museum.
A concert bandshell is located in Sunset Park.
The Witter Gallery features monthly exhibits from both local and non-local artists, and offers free art classes and events.
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.[35][36][37]
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.[39]
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.[40]
St. Mary's Catholic Church operates a private K-12 school system, St. Mary's High School, founded in 1912.[41]
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.[42]
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.[43] Storm Lake's first newspaper, the Storm Lake Pilot-Tribune, was founded in 1896 and ran for over 125 years before being bought by the Storm Lake Times in 2022.[44]KAYL and KKIA radio serve the community, as well as a university radio station, KBVU.[45] A Spanish-language newspaper, La Presna, also covers the area.[46]
Infrastructure
The Storm Lake Police Department provides law enforcement services to the city. The department employs 21 sworn officers, and two community services officers.[47]
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