Sioux City

Sioux City is a settlement in northwestern Iowa that sits where the Missouri River divides Iowa, South Dakota, and Nebraska. The city covers roughly 153 square kilometers (59 square miles) and serves as the administrative center of Woodbury County.

The Lewis and Clark Expedition passed through this area in 1804, when Sergeant Charles Floyd died and was buried as the only member lost during the entire journey. The later founding of the settlement during the 19th century followed the expansion of steamboat traffic on the Missouri River.

The Woodbury County Courthouse displays substantial Greco-Roman architectural elements through its 1918 structure, designed by William Gray Purcell and George Grant Elmslie.

Sioux Gateway Airport sits a few kilometers south of downtown and offers regular flight connections to other parts of the region. The local bus network covers the main districts and makes getting around easier without a personal vehicle.

The settlement opened the world's first electric-powered elevated railway in 1892, carrying passengers through several districts. The novel system operated for only a decade before being dismantled.

Location: Woodbury County

Inception: 1854

Elevation above the sea: 366 m

Website: https://sioux-city.org

GPS coordinates: 42.49806,-96.39556

Latest update: December 15, 2025 01:25