Sioux City, Iowa

Sioux City is a city located in Western Iowa. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 85,013. It is the county seat of Woodbury County{{GR|6}}.

History

Sioux City was laid out in 1854 by Dr. John K. Cook, sent by the United States Federal Government to survey northwestern Iowa, who was impressed by the location at the mouths of the Big Sioux and Floyd Rivers at the Missouri. Within 3 years it had a population of 400 people and incorporated as a city.

Related Topics:
1854 - United States Federal Government - Big Sioux - Floyd River - City

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Steamboat traffic first arrived at Sioux City in 1865, and the railroad arrived in 1868.

Related Topics:
Steamboat - 1865 - Railroad - 1868

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In 1885 the city had a population of some 20,000. That decade the city had a building boom, and an elevated railroad and early "skyscrapers" were built. President Grover Cleveland visited in 1887.

Related Topics:
1885 - Elevated railroad - Skyscraper - President - Grover Cleveland - 1887

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In 1915 the Industrial Workers of the World staged free speech demonstrations which resulted in mass arrests, filling the city's jails to overflowing. Further major strikes shut down the city in 1921 and 1922, most notably protesting conditions in the packing house industry.

Related Topics:
1915 - Industrial Workers of the World - Free speech - Strikes - 1921 - 1922 - Packing house

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In 1932 and 1933 a farmers strike occupied the city for some time, preventing food shipments in protest of very low agricultural prices.

Related Topics:
1932 - 1933 - Farmer

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In 1950 Sioux City had a population of about 84,000.

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On July 28, 1986 an F4 tornado struck areas west and south of Sioux City, destroying one of the four power generation plants at Port Neal, six miles south of the Sioux City airport. Fortunately, no one was killed and the tornado avoided heavily populated areas.

Related Topics:
July 28 - 1986 - F4 - Tornado

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On July 19, 1989 a Douglas DC-10 carrying United Airlines flight 232 crashed in Sioux City killing 112 but due to extraordinary efforts by the pilot and his crew, 184 on board survived. They were further aided by the advanced disaster training that the city had recently completed for its emergency workers.

Related Topics:
July 19 - 1989 - Douglas DC-10 - United Airlines flight 232

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In 1990 Sioux City was named an All America City by the National Civic League.

Related Topics:
1990 - All America City - National Civic League

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On December 13, 1994, an explosion killed four and injured 18 at the Terra International ammonium nitrate plant at Port Neal. The explosion released a cloud of anhydrous ammonia and nitric acid, forcing evacuations in nearby areas such as Salix. Fortunately, the toxic cloud stayed south of the city of Sioux City.

Related Topics:
December 13 - 1994 - Explosion - Ammonium nitrate - Cloud - Anhydrous ammonia - Nitric acid - Evacuation - Salix

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