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Sioux City, Iowa

Perched at the convergence of Iowa, Nebraska, and South Dakota where the Big Sioux and Floyd rivers meet the Missouri, Sioux City was a rough-and-tumble steamboat town and meatpacking capital. It's home to the only gravesite on the Lewis and Clark Trail — Sergeant Charles Floyd, the expedition's sole fatality.

Founded 1854 | Population 85,000 | Peak 85,000 (2024) | County Woodbury County

Top 10 Most Important Events for Sioux City, Iowa

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1854 Founded: Sioux City was founded at the confluence of the Missouri and Big Sioux rivers.

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1804 Sgt. Floyd Dies: Sergeant Charles Floyd of the Lewis and Clark Expedition died near here — the only death on the journey. His monument stands today.

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1892 Meatpacking Peak: Sioux City became one of the largest meatpacking centers in the nation, with massive stockyards.

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1989 United Flight 232: United Airlines Flight 232 crash-landed at Sioux Gateway Airport. Of 296 aboard, 185 survived thanks to heroic crew actions.

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2011 Missouri Flooding: Record Missouri River flooding forced evacuations and caused extensive damage across the Sioux City area.

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Latest News in Sioux City

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Complete Historical Timeline

1854 Culture

Founded

1804 Culture

Sgt. Floyd Dies

1892 Industry

Meatpacking Peak

1989 Disaster

United Flight 232

2011 Disaster

Missouri Flooding

Did You Know?

1

United Flight 232's crash-landing in 1989 was a miracle of pilot skill — 184 of 296 survived.

2

Sioux City sits at the junction of Iowa, Nebraska, and South Dakota.

3

The Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Sioux City is in the historic Battery Building.

4

Sioux City is located in Woodbury County, Iowa.

5

Sioux City was founded in 1854.

Famous People from Sioux City, Iowa

AH

Alan J. Heeger

Engineer, Physicist · Born Jan 22, 1936 · Age 90

WD

W. Edwards Deming

Composer, Engineer · Born Oct 14, 1900 · Died Dec 20, 1993 (age 93)

HH

Harry Hopkins

Politician, Diplomat · Born Aug 17, 1890 · Died Jan 29, 1946 (age 55)

TB

Tommy Bolin

Composer, Guitarist · Born Aug 1, 1951 · Died Dec 4, 1976 (age 25)

KH

Kirk Hinrich

Basketball Player · Born Jan 2, 1981 · Age 45

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