Storm Lake is a city in
Buena Vista County, Iowa
Buena Vista County (; ) is a County (United States), county located in the U.S. state of Iowa. As of the 2020 United States Census, 2020 census, the population was 20,823. Its county seat is Storm Lake, Iowa, Storm Lake. The county is named for ...
, 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
A county seat is an administrative center, seat of government, or capital city of a county or civil parish. The term is in use in Canada, China, Hungary, Romania, Taiwan, and the United States. The equivalent term shire town is used in the US st ...
of Buena Vista County.
Storm Lake is home to
Buena Vista University
Buena Vista University is a private university in Storm Lake, Iowa. Founded in 1891 as Buena Vista College, it is affiliated with the Presbyterian Church. The university's campus is situated on the shores of Storm Lake, a natural lake.
At i ...
, King's Pointe Waterpark Resort, the
Living Heritage Tree Museum, and the Santa's Castle holiday attraction.
History
Storm Lake was incorporated in 1873. The city of Storm Lake was named from the lake where it is said a
trapper
Animal trapping, or simply trapping or gin, is the use of a device to remotely catch an animal. Animals may be trapped for a variety of purposes, including food, the fur trade, hunting, pest control, and wildlife management.
History
Neolithic ...
experienced a severe storm. A more romantic legend 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.
As of the 2020 census, Storm Lake was the most ethnically diverse city in Iowa, with over 60% of the population and over 80% of students in the community’s school district identifying as non-white. Storm Lake’s diversity is partially a result of refugee resettlement programs in the 1970s, and an abundance of meat packing jobs drawing Latin American migrant workers to the town.
Geography
Storm Lake is located in the northwestern part of the state, along its namesake
Storm Lake.
Much of the lakefront is open to the public in parks and preserves.
According to the
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau (USCB), officially the Bureau of the Census, is a principal agency of the U.S. Federal Statistical System, responsible for producing data about the American people and economy. The Census Bureau is part of the ...
, the city has a total area of , all land.
Climate
Demographics
2020 census
As of the 2022 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. The community is considered one of the state's most ethnically diverse. The community celebrates its populations from around the world in a Parade of Nations each July 4 and public art installations.
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
Tyson Foods, Inc. is an American multinational corporation, based in Springdale, Arkansas, that operates in the food industry. The company is the world's second-largest processor and marketer of chicken, beef, and pork after JBS S.A. It annually ...
operates a large hog slaughterhouse, meat packing plant, and turkey processing plant in the city.
Arts and culture
*
Living Heritage Tree Museum is located on the shore of Storm Lake, and contains a library and the Witter Art Gallery
* Santa's Castle is a seasonal display of antique holiday animation, housed in a former Victorian library.
* The Buena Vista County Historical Society operates a museum.
* King's Pointe is a 100-room community-owned tourism resort located on the lakefront, with waterparks, banquet facilities and a restaurant.
* A concert bandshell is located in Sunset Park.
Parks and recreation
The city operates Sunrise Pointe, a 9-hole golf course. The city has are five beach areas, and a recreation trail linking them.
Education
The
Storm Lake Community School District operates five local public schools, including a high school, a middle school, and an elementary school. As of the 2020-21 school year, the Storm Lake Community School District served 2,841 students.
St. Mary's Catholic Church operates a private K-12 school system,
St. Mary's High School.
Buena Vista University
Buena Vista University is a private university in Storm Lake, Iowa. Founded in 1891 as Buena Vista College, it is affiliated with the Presbyterian Church. The university's campus is situated on the shores of Storm Lake, a natural lake.
At i ...
is located in Storm Lake. As of 2022, the university has 1,982 students on a campus within Storm Lake. The city hosts a satellite campus for Iowa Central Community College, including an industrial training center established in 2021.
Media
The community has a twice-weekly newspaper, the Storm Lake Times Pilot, which merged with the Pilot-Tribune in 2022. KAYL/KKIA radio serves the community, as well as a university radio station, KBVU. A Spanish-language newspaper also covers the area.
Infrastructure
Emergency services
The Storm Lake Police Department provides law enforcement services to the city. The department employes 21 sworn officers, and two community services officer.
Health care
Storm Lake is served by
Buena Vista Regional Medical Center, a 54-bed critical access hospital, and United Community Health Center.
Notable people
*
Nate Bjorkgren
Nate Bjorkgren (; born June 20, 1975) is an American basketball coach, currently an assistant coach for
the Toronto Raptors of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He played college basketball for the University of South Dakota and Buena ...
, basketball coach
*
Skip Carnine (born 1941), retired educator and Storm Lake native;
Republican
Republican can refer to:
Political ideology
* An advocate of a republic, a type of government that is not a monarchy or dictatorship, and is usually associated with the rule of law.
** Republicanism, the ideology in support of republics or agains ...
member of the
Arkansas House of Representatives
The Arkansas State House of Representatives is the lower house of the Arkansas General Assembly, the state legislature of the US state of Arkansas. The House is composed of 100 members elected from an equal amount of constituencies across the ...
from
Rogers Rogers may refer to:
Places
Canada
*Rogers Pass (British Columbia)
* Rogers Island (Nunavut)
United States
* Rogers, Arkansas, a city
* Rogers, alternate name of Muroc, California, a former settlement
* Rogers, Indiana, an unincorporated communit ...
*
Art Cullen, editor of the ''Storm Lake Times'', won the 2017 Pulitzer Prize for editorial writing.
*
Janet Dailey
Janet Anne Haradon Dailey (May 21, 1944 – December 14, 2013) was an American author of numerous romance novels as Janet Dailey (her married name). Her novels have been translated into nineteen languages and have sold more than 300 million ...
, romance novelist
*
Joe Decker
George Henry Decker, Jr. (June 16, 1947 – March 2, 2003) was a Major League Baseball pitcher for the Chicago Cubs (1969–72), Minnesota Twins (1973–76) and Seattle Mariners (1979). He was born in Storm Lake, Iowa.
He was traded ...
(1947–2003),
MLB
Major League Baseball (MLB) is a professional baseball organization and the oldest major professional sports league in the world. MLB is composed of 30 total teams, divided equally between the National League (NL) and the American League (AL), ...
player
*
George B. French
George B. French (April 14, 1883 – June 9, 1961) was an American film actor. He appeared in more than 90 films between the mid-1910s and early 1940s.
Selected filmography
* '' Wanted: A Leading Lady'' (1915)
* ''Tarzan of the Apes'' (191 ...
, actor
*
Edmund B. Gregory,
Lieutenant General
Lieutenant general (Lt Gen, LTG and similar) is a three-star military rank (NATO code OF-8) used in many countries. The rank traces its origins to the Middle Ages, where the title of lieutenant general was held by the second-in-command on the ...
in the
U.S. Army
The United States Army (USA) is the land service branch of the United States Armed Forces. It is one of the eight U.S. uniformed services, and is designated as the Army of the United States in the U.S. Constitution.Article II, section 2, cl ...
*
Julie Gutz (born 1926), All-American Girls Professional Baseball League player
*
Gene Hackman
Eugene Allen Hackman (born January 30, 1930) is an American retired actor and former novelist. In a career that has spanned more than six decades, Hackman has won two Academy Awards, four Golden Globes, one Screen Actors Guild Award, two BAFTAs ...
, Oscar-winning actor resided here in 1945; reference Storm Lake "Breeze" yearbook 1945, 10th grade
*
Winton Hoch
Winton C. Hoch, A.S.C. ( ) (July 31, 1905 – March 20, 1979) was an American cinematographer. He was earlier a lab technician who contributed to the development of Technicolor before becoming a cinematographer in 1936. His understanding of the col ...
, Oscar-winning
cinematographer
The cinematographer or director of photography (sometimes shortened to DP or DOP) is the person responsible for the photographing or recording of a film, television production, music video or other live action piece. The cinematographer is the ch ...
*
Marjorie Holmes
Marjorie Holmes (1910–2002) was an American columnist and best-selling Christian author of 134 books, 32 of which were best sellers. Holmes is known best for her biblical trilogy which began with the novel '' Two From Galilee'', a love story abo ...
(1910–2002), author of hundreds of magazine articles and several novels, most notably ''
Two From Galilee''
*
Frederic O. MacCartney
Frederic O. MacCartney (November 2, 1864 – May 25, 1903) was an American Unitarian minister and socialist politician. MacCartney is best remembered for having been elected to four terms of office in the state legislature of Massachusetts unde ...
(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
External links
*
{{authority control
Cities in Buena Vista County, Iowa
Cities in Iowa
Micropolitan areas of Iowa
County seats in Iowa
Populated places established in 1873