BlockBefore

Sioux County, Iowa

55 topographic sheets cover 23 settlements here, and 4 properties are on the National Register of Historic Places.

Research this county

From the record

4 National Register listings published here.

Sources: the National Register database, National Park Service

Iowa within the United States
Sioux County within Iowa

What the record shows

  • 193 topographic sheet readings cover the county's settlements.
  • 4 properties here are on the National Register of Historic Places: 4 buildings.
  • 2 of the 4 listings were added during the 1970s.
  • The Geographic Names Information System records 23 populated places in this county; 23 are covered by at least one topographic sheet.

Places on the National Register

4

Every property in this county listed on the National Register of Historic Places, with the year it was listed and the federal nomination document.

Photograph PropertyType ListedReference
Charles M. and Emma M. Fischer Fleshman Housebuilding199392001743
Hawarden City Hall, Fire Station and Auditoriumbuilding200909000107
Sioux County Courthousebuilding197777000559
Zwemer Hall, Northwestern Collegebuilding197575000698

Wildfire, 2006 to 2020

47 fires

Every wildfire the federal occurrence database records inside this county: 47 of them, burning about 1,243 acres. 1 started naturally and none was recorded as arson. Each settlement page carries the fires within five miles of it.

Reported cause Fires
Missing data/not specified/undetermined22
Debris and open burning12
Equipment and vehicle use10
Smoking2
Natural1

The five largest, by the area the report gives. None of them was recorded as arson.

DateCause SizeReported by Name on the report
3 June 2006Missing data/not specified/undetermined350 acresIowa Department of Natural Resourcesnot named
16 March 2015Missing data/not specified/undetermined214 acresIowa Department of Natural Resourcesnot named
12 April 2014Missing data/not specified/undetermined160 acresIowa Department of Natural Resourcesnot named
30 April 2018Natural90 acresIowa Department of Natural Resourcesnot named
11 September 2009Missing data/not specified/undetermined80 acresIowa Department of Natural Resourcesnot named
30 September 2020Equipment and vehicle use66 acresIowa Department of Natural Resourcesnot named
22 April 2014Debris and open burning60 acresIowa Department of Natural Resourcesnot named
15 March 2009Missing data/not specified/undetermined40 acresIowa Department of Natural Resourcesnot named

Every settlement page carries the fires within five miles of it - see the settlement index below.

Storms, 1956 to 2025

60 of 690 shown

The NOAA Storm Events Database holds 690 reports for this county, causing 2 deaths, 4 injuries and about $26,187,250 in recorded property damage. Each settlement page carries the reports that name it.

Kind of event Reports
Hail256
Thunderstorm Wind223
Flood116
Tornado47
Flash Flood41
Heavy Rain3
Lightning2
Funnel Cloud2

The most serious of them, by death, then injury, then recorded damage. The accounts are quoted exactly as the forecast office filed them.

WhenEvent Place namedHarm What the report says
June 2024FloodChatsworth1 killed, $6,500,000Rainfall amounts across Sioux County from June 20-22 ranged from 2 to 7 inches, with the highest amounts across the northern half of the county. Farther north and upstream, up to 12 inches of rain fell across portions of southeast South Dakota and northwest Iowa. This rainfall resulted in extensive overland flooding and major to record flooding along the Big Sioux, Rock, West Branch Floyd, and Floyd Rivers, and Burr Oak Creek. ||Large sections of Rock Valley and Hawarden were evacuated as flood waters inundated both cities. An estimated 200 people were rescued during the peak of the flooding. An estimated 60 businesses were impacted by flood water in Rock Valley and Hawarden. County-wide, 700 to 800 housing units were impacted by flood water, 150 of which were declared a total loss. Rock Valley Public and Christian Schools were also flooded and sustained severe damage. ||Countless county roads and bridges were covered in water and damaged. Preliminary damage assessments estimate loss to public infrastructure to be 6.5 million dollars. ||One direct fatality occurred in Rock Valley when a man was pinned by debris from a collapsed foundation and subsequently drowned when water filled the basement. ||The majority of overland flooding subsided by June 25, but river flooding continued through the end of the month. For additional information on river flooding, please see other flood entries for Sioux County.
July 2005Thunderstorm WindSheldon1 killed, $50,000Thunderstorm winds flipped over a camper, twisted swing sets, blew down power poles, and caused widespread tree damage. Several trees were blown down, including one which fell on a tent, killing a participant in a bicycle ride across Iowa. Several roads were blocked by fallen trees and limbs. Wind blown debris damaged siding on several houses.
July 2010Thunderstorm WindMaurice4 hurt, $200,000Thunderstorm winds destroyed one home and damaged at least 20 others. Homes that were damaged had broken windows, had parts of roofs and siding that were blown away, or had roofs damaged by falling trees. tree damage was widespread, and there were also downed power lines and power outages. One person was injured by broken glass, and three others were injured by flying debris, with one of the injured hospitalized.|The winds destroyed a large hog confinement structure.
May 2014Tornado (EF1)Middleburg$3,000,000A tornado damaged 3 farmsteads in including damage to at least one house. The greatest damage was to structures and vehicles at a dairy farm.
August 1979Tornado (F2)not stated$2,500,000no account filed
July 1978Tornado (F2)not stated$2,500,000no account filed
September 1968Tornado (F3)not stated$2,500,000no account filed
August 2023Flash FloodSioux Center$1,500,000Water ponding in the area of Central Park overflowed roadways and entered the Sioux Center Fire Department building. Two homes suffered the collapse of basement walls from the high water. Water also inundated a transformer which cut off power to seven homes in the northwest part of town. Seven trailers were evacuated due to high water in Westbrook Village on the northwest edge of town. More than two dozen vehicles were stranded in high water. Damage costs are rough estimates.
June 2014FloodHull$1,000,000Repeated heavy rains caused record flooding of the Rock River. Several homes, businesses, roads, farmland, and other low areas were flooded, forcing some people to evacuate their homes and rely on Red Cross and other volunteer assistance for several days. The flooding was severe in Rock Valley, where the river crested at a record 6.68 feet above flood stage on June 17th, and where a levee break added to flooding in the town.
November 2005Tornado (F1)Hospers$800,000A tornado destroyed the wall and part of the roof of a business in Hospers, and caused minor damage to contents in the building.
March 2019FloodChatsworth$610,000Flooding resulted in extensive damage to public infrastructure including numerous county and township roads, culverts, and some bridges.
June 2014FloodRock Vly$500,000Repeated heavy rains caused record flooding of the Big Sioux River. Farmland and other lowlands including numerous roads were flooded, especially along the river in southwestern Sioux County, near and south of where the flooding Rock River empties into the Big Sioux. Some roads were damaged, and some secondary roads were washed out. Several homes and farm buildings were flooded and damaged. The river crested at a record 12.92 feet above flood stage at Hawarden on June 17th.
May 2008Tornado (EF2)Rock Vly$500,000A tornado damaged numerous trees, including large trees uprooted, blew windows out of a home, destroyed a metal shed, blew two windows and part of a wall out of a metal building, damaged at least three grain bins, destroyed or damaged numerous outbuildings and small sheds, blew down or snapped off at least 15 power poles, bent a metal light pole, tipped one wagon and blew the top off another, blew down a barb wire fence and pushed fence posts almost to the ground, destroyed a hog barn, and flattened corn stubble, before crossing the county line into Lyon County. Contents inside several damaged or destroyed buildings and sheds were also damaged, especially on one farm where damaged buildings housed a farm and trucking business.
July 1994Thunderstorm WindHawarden$500,000no account filed
July 1994Thunderstorm WindBoyden$500,000no account filed
July 2019Thunderstorm WindRock Vly$400,000Downburst winds removed the roof and most walls from a home at the corner of 8th Avenue and 12th Street. Debris from this home damaged a downstream home toward the east. A utility pole and several trees were snapped off, which started a small fire. |Several other homes had some lesser collateral roof or siding damage within a three block stretch toward the east and southeast.
June 1996HailSioux Center$300,000no account filed
June 1990Tornado (F0)not stated$250,000no account filed
July 1987Tornado (F2)not stated$250,000no account filed
July 1999Thunderstorm WindHawarden$200,000no account filed
August 2023Flash FloodSioux Center$100,000A no travel advised order was put out with numerous roads under significant flowing water up to mid-vehicle depth, including 2nd Avenue SE near New Age Church and 4th Avenue SE near Children's Park. Property damage costs are rough estimates.
March 2009Thunderstorm WindHull$100,000Thunderstorm winds blew off the roof of a metal building, caused roof damage to homes and businesses, and caused widespread tree damage. The winds also blew down power lines and 10 power poles over a mile and a half stretch just southwest of Hull, causing power outages affecting at least 1,600 electrical customers in and near the towns of Hull and Boyden.
March 2009Thunderstorm WindHawarden$100,000Thunderstorm winds destroyed a snack shack. The winds also caused roof and siding damage to several homes and businesses, with some of the damage due to tree debris becoming embedded in buildings. The winds blew out windows in several buildings, and caused widespread tree damage.
August 2001Tornado (F1)Sioux Center$100,000A tornado blew down power lines and poles, caused tree damage, flattened corn, and destroyed two machine sheds on a farm. Equipment inside the machine sheds was damaged.
August 2023Thunderstorm WindMaurice$50,000A very old barn collapsed under the weight of a more modern roof. The structure fell to the southeast, most likely in relation to rear flank downdraft wind on the backside of tornado producing mesocyclone. Property damage costs are a rough estimate.
September 2021Thunderstorm WindBoyden$50,000The doors of a school bus garage building were blown in by thunderstorm winds, which resulted in failure of the most of the roof and an exterior wall. Property damage costs are a rough estimate.
June 2014FloodFairview$50,000Persistent moderate to heavy rain caused flooding of fields and other lowlands, including several roads, homes, and businesses. This flooding lasted for almost two days, and was aggravated locally by additional storms during that time. Some roads were damaged or washed out.
May 2013Flash FloodMc Nally$50,000Heavy rainfall of several inches caused widespread flooding of streets and roads, including Iowa Highway 60 between Alton and Hospers. Basements and lower levels of some homes and businesses were flooded.
May 2013FloodHospers$50,000Heavy rain caused record flooding on the Floyd River. Significant farmland was flooded and crops were destroyed or deemed to need replanting. Other lowlands along the river were flooded, and several roads were flooded. The basements or lower levels of numerous homes and business were flooded, especially in Alton. The river crested at a record 7.19 feet above flood stage at Alton on May 27th.
July 2010Flash FloodMiddleburg$50,000Heavy rainfall of up to 6 inches caused flash flooding of numerous roads, including Iowa Highway 18. Numerous homes had flooded basements and other water damage.
July 2009Thunderstorm WindHull$50,000Thunderstorm winds destroyed a small outbuilding and a 40 by 60 foot steel storage building. The winds caused damage to businesses and homes, much of it caused by flying debris from the storage building. A vehicle in the storage building was also damaged. Other storage buildings, including several at a storage business, were severely damaged. The winds also caused tree damage, including several trees blown down.
April 2002Thunderstorm WindHawarden$50,000Thunderstorm winds rolled a semi truck and crumpled a storage tank.
August 2001Tornado (F1)Sioux Center$50,000A tornado damaged several small farm buildings, and peeled the middle part of the roof off a large hog confinement building.
July 1997Thunderstorm WindOrange City$50,000Thunderstorm winds damaged trees and power lines, resulting in power outages lasting several hours.
July 1998Thunderstorm WindHull$50,000no account filed
April 1994Thunderstorm WindOrange City$50,000no account filed
April 1994Thunderstorm WindSioux Center$50,000no account filed
April 1994Thunderstorm WindRock Valley$50,000no account filed
May 1998Tornado (F0)Rock Vly$30,000no account filed
October 1998LightningHawarden$30,000no account filed
September 2021Thunderstorm WindHull$25,000A large construction shed was lifted and thrown into a nearby corn field. Property damage costs are a rough estimate.
March 2009Thunderstorm WindChatsworth$25,000Thunderstorm winds blew a camper over and blew shingles off roofs. The winds also caused tree damage, including several trees blown down.
July 2009Thunderstorm WindIreton$25,000Thunderstorm winds uprooted or split several trees, and blew down numerous branches, including some branches 6 inches in diameter. Several homes were damaged by falling trees, tree debris, and directly by the wind which damaged roofs. Corn and soybean crops were damaged in the area, but the amount of crop damage was not known.
July 1992Tornado (F1)not stated$25,000no account filed
July 1978Tornadonot stated$25,000no account filed
June 1966Tornado (F2)not stated$25,000no account filed
March 1963Tornado (F1)not stated$25,000no account filed
May 2012Thunderstorm WindAlton$20,000Thunderstorm winds damaged trees and power lines, and blew down a grain bin and cattle shed. The peak gust was measured by Iowa RWIS equipment.
September 1995Thunderstorm WindIreton$20,000Thunderstorm winds caused tree damage, and damaged a house when a large tree was blown over onto it.
August 1996Thunderstorm WindSioux Center$20,000no account filed
August 2021HailRock Vly$10,000Hail resulted in the death of several birds, stripped corn, and holes in the siding of a house. Property damage costs are a rough estimate. Crop damage is an estimate from insured losses. Information provided by the United States Department of Agriculture.
June 2020Thunderstorm WindRock Vly$10,000Six to nine inch diameter tree limbs taken down with power outages in Rock Valley. Property damage costs are rough estimates.
June 2020Flash FloodRock Vly$10,000Street flooding occurred to a couple feet of depth. Property damage costs are rough estimates.
July 2019Thunderstorm WindLebanon$10,000Ten mature trees blown down. Several more have tops snapped off. Machine shed doors blown in and back wall blown out, with debris spread into the field.
September 2019FloodHawarden$10,000After excessive two-day rainfall during September 10-12 (7.81 inches at Dell Rapids, generally 3 to 4 inches around Sioux Falls, 4.72 inches at Canton), the Big Sioux River above Hawarden (gage site HWDI4) reached the third highest stage on record of 12.33 feet above flood stage on September 15. Significant amounts of the agricultural flood plain were inundated, and numerous roads were closed including South Dakota Highway 46, Iowa Highway 10 and South Dakota county road 13.
September 2019FloodFairview$10,000After excessive two-day rainfall during September 10-12 (7.81 inches at Dell Rapids, generally 3 to 4 inches around Sioux Falls, 4.72 inches at Canton), the Big Sioux River at Fairview (gage site FVWS2) reached the highest stage on record of 11.14 feet above flood stage on September 14. Significant amounts of the agricultural flood plain were inundated.
September 2019FloodRock Vly$10,000After excessive two-day rainfall during September 10-12 (4.72 inches at Luverne and 3.43 inches at Rock Rapids), the Rock River at Rock Valley (gage site RKVI4) reached a minor crest of 0.79 feet above flood stage on September 14. Significant agricultural land was flooded along with several county roads.
August 2009LightningFairview$10,000Lightning struck a house and started a fire. The fire started in a wall between two rooms, with fire and smoke damage resulting.
June 2002Thunderstorm WindOrange City Arpt$10,000Thunderstorm winds blew over a construction trailer and caused tree damage.
May 2000Thunderstorm WindHawarden$10,000Thunderstorms winds caused tree damage and minor damage to buildings.

Mines and quarries

114 recorded

The Survey's mineral resources record lists 114 workings inside this county. 15 still produce and 99 are closed or unrecorded. Each settlement page carries the workings within five miles of it.

Commodity Workings
Sand and Gravel, Construction114

The least common of them first, because a county's hundredth gravel pit says nothing its first ten did not.

Where SiteCommodity StatusRecorded
Alton PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionUnknown
CambrierSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
Chatsworth PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionProducer
Fairview-HodgmanSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
Floyd GravelSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
Frank UdenSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
Groth PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
HarknessSand and Gravel, ConstructionProducer
HawardenSand and Gravel, ConstructionProducer
Hawarden Pit & PlantSand and Gravel, ConstructionProducer
Hudson PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
Hymans Hudson/OstercampSand and Gravel, ConstructionProducer
Hymans Sioux CenterSand and Gravel, ConstructionProducer
Hymans-FairviewSand and Gravel, ConstructionProducer
Hymans-HawardenSand and Gravel, ConstructionProducer
Hymans-Vander EschSand and Gravel, ConstructionProducer
Johnson PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
L G EveristSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
L G EveristSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
Maudlin SheldonSand and Gravel, ConstructionProducer
Maudlin-FairviewSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
Maudlin-FairviewSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
N BloemendaalSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
North Alton PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
Oelrich FmSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
Old County PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
Old County PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
Old State PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
Old State PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
Rock Valley CementSand and Gravel, ConstructionProducer
Ruppert BrosSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
Schumacher PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
Sheldon PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
Sioux CitySand and Gravel, ConstructionProducer
Sioux River PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionProducer
Sioux-Armstrong PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
Sioux-East Anderson PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
Sioux-Heitritter PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
Sioux-Kuiper PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
Sioux-LoverinkSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
Sioux-Miller PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
Sioux-Shoemaker PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
Sioux-Vandeweerd PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
Sioux-Vanwoodenberg PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
Sioux-West Anderson PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
Solberg PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
UnknownSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
UnknownSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
UnknownSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
UnknownSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
UnknownSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
UnknownSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
UnknownSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
UnknownSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
UnknownSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
UnknownSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
UnknownSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
UnknownSand and Gravel, ConstructionProducer
UnknownSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
UnknownSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
UnknownSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
UnknownSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
UnknownSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
UnknownSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
UnknownSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
UnknownSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
UnknownSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
UnknownSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
UnknownSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
UnknownSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
UnknownSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
UnknownSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
UnknownSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
UnknownSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
UnknownSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
UnknownSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
UnknownSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
UnknownSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
UnknownSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
UnknownSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
UnknownSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
UnknownSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
UnknownSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
UnknownSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
UnknownSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
UnknownSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
UnknownSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
UnknownSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
UnknownSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
UnknownSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
UnknownSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
UnknownSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
UnknownSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
UnknownSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
UnknownSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
UnknownSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
UnknownSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
UnknownSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
UnknownSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
UnknownSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
UnknownSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
UnknownSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
UnknownSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
UnknownSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
UnknownSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
UnknownSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
Unknown-MaudlinSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
Van Gelder-Hiemstra PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionProducer
Van Zee S&GSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
VankikerxisSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
VanwoudenbergSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
Western EngSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
WielengaSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
YanzeeSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer

Every populated place in the county

23

Named settlements recorded in the Geographic Names Information System, each with the topographic sheets covering it. Villages, hamlets and abandoned places alike. Each is shown with the nearest named watercourse or landform and the survey quadrangle it falls on.

Provenance

  • Topographic sheets. USGS Historical Topographic Map Collection, county index, measured from the bulk metadata.
  • Fire insurance maps. Library of Congress Sanborn collection, faceted to this county.
  • Photographs. Each place queried individually against the Library of Congress Prints and Photographs search.
  • Wildfire. Short, Karen C. 2022. Spatial wildfire occurrence data for the United States, 1992-2020 [FPA_FOD_20221014]. 6th Edition. Fort Collins, CO: Forest Service Research Data Archive. https://doi.org/10.2737/RDS-2013-0009.6 Collected with United States Government funding and usable without additional permissions or fees.
  • Mines and quarries. USGS Mineral Resources Data System (MRDS) https://mrdata.usgs.gov/mrds/ A work of the United States government, no copyright under 17 U.S.C. 105.
  • Storms. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/stormevents/ A work of the United States government, no copyright under 17 U.S.C. 105. Narratives are quoted verbatim from the National Weather Service report and are not edited or summarised.