Sibley, Iowa

Sibley, Iowa
City
Farmland in Sibley
Location of Sibley, Iowa
Coordinates: 43°24′11″N95°44′47″W / 43.40306°N 95.74639°W / 43.40306; -95.74639
Country	United States
State	Iowa
County	Osceola
Area [1]
• Total	1.79 sq mi (4.63 km2)
• Land	1.79 sq mi (4.63 km2)
• Water	0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2)
Elevation	1,516 ft (462 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	2,860
• Density	1,601.34/sq mi (618.35/km2)
Time zone	UTC-6 (Central (CST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP code	51249
Area code	712
FIPS code	19-72975
GNIS feature ID	0461598
Website	www.cityofsibley.com

Sibley is a city in Osceola County, Iowa, United States. The population was 2,860 at the time of the 2020 census. ^[2] It is the county seat of Osceola County. ^[3] Hawkeye Point, the highest point in the State of Iowa, is also nearby.

History

Sibley had its start in the year 1872 by the construction of the Sioux City & St. Paul Railroad through that territory. ^[4] It is the oldest town in Osceola County. ^[5]

Sibley is named after Henry Hastings Sibley, a prominent general during the Dakota War of 1862, who eventually became the first governor of Minnesota. ^{[6] [7]} William L. Harding, governor of Iowa from 1917 to 1921, was born in Sibley in 1877.

In March 2018, the city of Sibley lost a lawsuit brought against it by the ACLU. Local resident Josh Harms had criticized local officials for failing to stop the "rancid dog food" smell coming from a local pork blood processing plant, which he believed would dissuade people from moving to the town. The city of Sibley threatened to sue him and instructed him not to speak to the media about the issue. The ACLU successfully argued that this violated Harms' First Amendment rights to free speech. ^[8] An injunction was granted, preventing Sibley's officials from "directing Harms not to speak with reporters, threatening to bring a lawsuit, or actually bringing a lawsuit against" Harms. ^[9]

In September 2018, the city of Sibley was featured in an Esquire article by Ryan Lizza on dairy farms in the region that employ undocumented immigrants. ^[10] Dairy farmers and their workers expressed concern that they might be raided by ICE. Indeed, the fear of such a raid was so acute that "[o]ne dairy farmer said . . . that [Western Iowa Dairy Alliance] members have discussed forming a NATO-like pact that would treat a raid on one dairy as a raid on all of them." ^[10] Lizza's reporting received national attention and has been discussed in regional and national news outlets such as Mother Jones, ^[11] The Des Moines Register, ^[12] The Washington Post, ^[13] The Daily Beast, ^[14] Bloomberg, ^[15] and Salon. ^[16]

Geography

Sibley is located at 43°24′11″N95°44′47″W / 43.40306°N 95.74639°W / 43.40306; -95.74639 (43.403046, -95.746471). ^[17]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 1.68 square miles (4.35 km²), all land. ^[18]

Climate

Climate data for Sibley, Iowa (1991−2020 normals, extremes 1893−present)
Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
Record high °F (°C)	64 (18)	68 (20)	85 (29)	94 (34)	100 (38)	102 (39)	108 (42)	106 (41)	102 (39)	93 (34)	77 (25)	66 (19)	108 (42)
Mean maximum °F (°C)	43.1 (6.2)	49.2 (9.6)	66.6 (19.2)	80.0 (26.7)	88.8 (31.6)	92.4 (33.6)	91.2 (32.9)	90.4 (32.4)	88.0 (31.1)	82.4 (28.0)	64.0 (17.8)	46.9 (8.3)	94.7 (34.8)
Average high °F (°C)	23.1 (−4.9)	28.0 (−2.2)	41.0 (5.0)	56.1 (13.4)	68.8 (20.4)	78.9 (26.1)	82.1 (27.8)	79.9 (26.6)	73.8 (23.2)	59.8 (15.4)	42.6 (5.9)	28.3 (−2.1)	55.2 (12.9)
Daily mean °F (°C)	13.9 (−10.1)	18.4 (−7.6)	30.8 (−0.7)	44.3 (6.8)	57.2 (14.0)	67.8 (19.9)	71.2 (21.8)	68.9 (20.5)	61.4 (16.3)	47.7 (8.7)	32.4 (0.2)	19.5 (−6.9)	44.5 (6.9)
Average low °F (°C)	4.7 (−15.2)	8.8 (−12.9)	20.6 (−6.3)	32.5 (0.3)	45.5 (7.5)	56.7 (13.7)	60.3 (15.7)	57.9 (14.4)	49.1 (9.5)	35.7 (2.1)	22.3 (−5.4)	10.7 (−11.8)	33.7 (0.9)
Mean minimum °F (°C)	−18.0 (−27.8)	−12.0 (−24.4)	−2.8 (−19.3)	16.3 (−8.7)	30.3 (−0.9)	44.6 (7.0)	49.6 (9.8)	46.9 (8.3)	33.2 (0.7)	20.3 (−6.5)	3.0 (−16.1)	−11.0 (−23.9)	−21.0 (−29.4)
Record low °F (°C)	−40 (−40)	−40 (−40)	−30 (−34)	0 (−18)	15 (−9)	30 (−1)	37 (3)	30 (−1)	15 (−9)	3 (−16)	−20 (−29)	−32 (−36)	−40 (−40)
Average precipitation inches (mm)	0.74 (19)	0.84 (21)	1.59 (40)	3.25 (83)	4.06 (103)	4.88 (124)	3.30 (84)	3.58 (91)	3.25 (83)	2.31 (59)	1.38 (35)	1.05 (27)	30.23 (768)
Average snowfall inches (cm)	8.1 (21)	7.4 (19)	7.0 (18)	3.7 (9.4)	0.0 (0.0)	0.0 (0.0)	0.0 (0.0)	0.0 (0.0)	0.0 (0.0)	1.1 (2.8)	5.1 (13)	9.1 (23)	41.5 (105)
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in)	6.0	5.3	6.3	9.5	12.9	11.6	8.9	8.8	8.4	7.8	5.1	5.9	96.5
Average snowy days (≥ 0.1 in)	5.5	4.5	3.1	1.3	0.1	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.5	2.5	4.9	22.4
Source: NOAA [19] [20]

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1880	301		—
1890	1,090		262.1%
1900	1,289		18.3%
1910	1,330		3.2%
1920	1,803		35.6%
1930	1,870		3.7%
1940	2,356		26.0%
1950	2,559		8.6%
1960	2,852		11.4%
1970	2,749		−3.6%
1980	3,051		11.0%
1990	2,815		−7.7%
2000	2,796		−0.7%
2010	2,798		0.1%
2020	2,860		2.2%
U.S. Decennial Census [21] [2]

2010 census

As of the census ^[22] of 2010, there were 2,798 people, 1,153 households, and 724 families living in the city. The population density was 1,665.5 inhabitants per square mile (643.1/km²). There were 1,269 housing units at an average density of 755.4 per square mile (291.7/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 99.1% White, 0.3% African American, 0.3% Native American, 0.1% Asian, .2% from other races, and 0.7% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were .4% of the population.

There were 1,153 households, of which 3.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.3% were married couples living together, 8.1% had a female householder with no husband present, 3.4% had a male householder with no wife present, and 37.2% were non-families. 33.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 95.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 23.33 and the average family size was 21.98.

The median age in the city was 44.9 years. 19.7% of residents were under the age of 18; 4.1% were between the ages of 20 and 24; 23.2% were from 25 to 44; 25.8% were from 45 to 64; and 24.1% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 40.2% male and 59.8% female.

2000 census

At the 2000 census, ^[23] there were 2,796 people, 1,161 households and 743 families living in the city. The population density was 1,734.7 inhabitants per square mile (669.8/km²). There were 1,244 housing units at an average density of 771.8 per square mile (298.0/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 97.68% White, 0.21% African American, 0.32% Native American, 0.32% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.89% from other races, and 0.54% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.22% of the population.

There were 1,161 households, of which 28.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.8% were married couples living together, 7.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.0% were non-families. 33.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 19.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.31 and the average family size was 2.95.

23.7% of the population were under the age of 18, 7.2% from 18 to 24, 25.0% from 25 to 44, 20.4% from 45 to 64, and 23.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females, there were 83.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 81.5 males.

The median household income was $33,173 and the median family income was $43,882. Males had a median income of $31,403 compared $21,633 for females. The per capita income for the city was $16,845. About 3.6% of families and 4.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 2.3% of those under age 18 and 6.8% of those age 65 or over.

Education

Sibley-Ocheyedan Community School District serves the community. ^[24] The district formed on July 1, 1985 as a merger of the Sibley and Ocheyedan school districts. ^[25]

Transportation

Highways

• Iowa Highway 60 to Le Mars and Bigelow, Minnesota runs just outside city limits
• Iowa Highway 9 to Sioux Falls, South Dakota and Lansing, Iowa near the Wisconsin border passes about 1.5 miles north of the city

Rail

Main article: Worthington Subdivision

The Union Pacific Worthington Subdivision passes through Sibley en route from the Minneapolis area to Sioux City. ^[26] The line sees about 4 trains per day. ^[27] On May 16, 2021, 47 train cars carrying asphalt, hydrochloric acid, and potassium hydroxide derailed and caught fire in Sibley, leading to the evacuation of about 80 people. ^[28]

Notable people

• Dick Barber, an American long jumper, was born in Sibley and placed fifth in the 1932 Olympics
• Emory Collins, racing driver
• Robert W. Grow, the commander of the U.S. 6th Armored Division on the Western Front, fighting during the battles of Normandy and the Bulge
• William Lloyd Harding (1877–1934) the 22nd governor of Iowa 1917–1921
• Jeff Hayenga, actor
• Virginia Rich, food columnist and mystery writer
• William G. Steiner, is a children's advocate and nationally recognized expert on child abuse and neglect
• Devin Nunes, Congressmen from California lived in Sibley when his family purchased a dairy farm in Sibley
• Barb Whitehead, golfer; winner of one LPGA Tour event and member of Iowa Golf Hall of Fame ^[29]
• John Wills, member of the Iowa House of Representatives

References

1. "2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 16, 2022.
2. "2020 Census State Redistricting Data". census.gov. United states Census Bureau. Retrieved August 12, 2021.
3. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
4. History of Western Iowa, Its Settlement and Growth. Western Publishing Company. 1882. pp.  378.
5. Past and Present of O'Brien and Osceola Counties, Iowa, Volume 1. B. F. Bowen. 1914. p. 593.
6. Chicago and North Western Railway Company (1908). A History of the Origin of the Place Names Connected with the Chicago & North Western and Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis & Omaha Railways. p. 191.
7. Perkins, D. A. W. (1892). History of Osceola County, Iowa, from Its Organization to the Present Time. Brown & Saenger. pp.  214.
8. Eller, Donnelle (March 29, 2018). "Iowa man says his town stinks. Court says city cannot sue". The Des Moines Register. Retrieved April 2, 2018.
9. "US man wins right to say hometown stinks". BBC News . March 30, 2018. Retrieved June 23, 2018.
10. "Devin Nunes's Family Farm Is Hiding a Politically Explosive Secret". Esquire. September 30, 2018. Retrieved October 1, 2018.
11. "What an explosive story about Devin Nunes' family farm means for his high-profile house race". Mother Jones. Retrieved October 7, 2018.
12. "Report: Devin Nunes' family's farm is in northwest Iowa, not California". Des Moines Register. Retrieved October 7, 2018.
13. "Analysis | Just how 'politically explosive' is the Devin Nunes secret that Esquire uncovered?". Washington Post. Retrieved October 7, 2018.
14. "Report: Devin Nunes' Family Farm Was Secretly Moved to Iowa From California". The Daily Beast. October 1, 2018. Retrieved October 7, 2018.
15. "Devin Nunes Isn't the Only Dairy Farmer Souring On California". Bloomberg.com. October 4, 2018. Retrieved October 7, 2018.
16. "Devin Nunes' family farm likely using undocumented labor". Salon. October 1, 2018. Retrieved October 7, 2018.
17. "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
18. "US Gazetteer files 2010". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on January 25, 2012. Retrieved May 11, 2012.
19. "NowData - NOAA Online Weather Data". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved October 18, 2021.
20. "Station: Sibley, IA". U.S. Climate Normals 2020: U.S. Monthly Climate Normals (1991-2020). National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved October 18, 2021.
21. "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
22. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved May 11, 2012.
23. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved January 31, 2008.
24. "Sibley-Ocheyedan" (PDF). Iowa Department of Education . Retrieved March 24, 2020.
25. "REORGANIZATION & DISSOLUTION ACTIONS SINCE 1965-66" (PDF). Iowa Department of Education. Archived from the original (PDF) on February 9, 2019. Retrieved March 22, 2020.
26. "Iowa State Rail Plan Final" (PDF). Iowa Department of Transportation. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 18, 2020. Retrieved May 24, 2021.
27. "Crossing Inventory Lookup for Crossing 185845E". Federal Railroad Administration . Retrieved May 24, 2021.
28. "Train in Iowa Hauling Hazardous Materials Derails and Catches Fire". New York Times. May 16, 2021. Retrieved May 23, 2021.
29. "Whitehead to enter Iowa Golf Hall of Fame | Golf | siouxcityjournal.com". siouxcityjournal.com. Retrieved January 3, 2017.

External links

• Iowa portal

• Profile on county website
• City-Data Comprehensive Statistical Data and more about Sibley