Census Data for North Sioux City

Population ...

The most recent Census Estimate<1> was for 2019 and it gave North Sioux City a population of 2,935 people.

The last Decennial Census<2> was in 2010, which gave North Sioux City a population of 2,530 people.

The city of North Sioux City is located in Union County. The 2010 Census gave Union County; a population of 14,399 people. This means that North Sioux City had 17.57% of the county's total population, making it Union's most populous community.

At the same time, South Dakota had a population of 814,180 people, meaning that North Sioux City had 0.31% of the total population of South Dakota - making it the state's 39th most populous community.

Area ...

The 2010 Census shows that the sampling area for North Sioux City has a total area of 2.29 square miles [5.9 km²]. Of this total, 2.26 square miles [5.9 km²] is land, with the balance (1.18%) being water (0.03 square miles [0.1 km²]).

Union County has a land area of 460.5 square miles [1,192.8 km²]. At 2.26 square miles [5.9 km²], North Sioux City has 0.49% of the county's total land area.

• Continue Reading ...
  • When the Census Bureau conducts a census for a city like North Sioux City, they draw a boundary around the area in which they are going to conduct their count - this defines the sampling area (usually a polygon). The shape of the sampling area can be quite complex and it's important to keep in mind that the boundaries of the sampling area may or may not match the recognized boundaries of the city.
  • Things like population, area and housing for North Sioux City reflect the sampling area. Since the shape of the sampling area and the actual boundaries of North Sioux City might be different, it's best to check with the U.S. Census Bureau to resolve any difference between the two.
  • Not only does the sampling area define boundaries, it also has a GPS location (latitude & longitude) that indicates a point within the sampling area (usually the center of the polygon, known as the centroid). At the time of the 2010 Census, the sampling area was located at:
  • Lat:   42° 32' 16"   (or 42.54°)
  • Lon:   -96° 29' 59"   (or -96.5°)
  • More information on this topic and the changes between the 2000 Census and the 2010 Census can be found in the section for our Census-to-Census Observations ... (see below).

Housing Units ...

At the time of the 2010 Census, North Sioux City had 1,146 Housing Units<3> and with its population of 2,530 people, this averages 2.21 people per Housing Unit.

• Continue Reading ...
  • The 2010 Census shows North Sioux City had a land area of 2.26 square miles [5.9 km²]. This translates to 501 Housing Units per square mile [193.5 housing units/km²].
  • From the Census of 2000: North Sioux City had 953 Housing Units, a population of 2,288 people and a land area of 2.24 square miles [5.8 km²]. This gives a density of 2.4 people per Housing Unit and 420.3 Housing Units per square mile [162.3 housing units/km²].
  • Note: Repeating the caution above (under Population Density), be aware that when comparing Housing Units between the 2010 and the 2000 Census, there were changes in the sampling area for North Sioux City and you need to be careful when comparing numbers between the censuses. More information about the changes can be found in the section called Census-to-Census Observations ... (see below).

Union County ...

The community of North Sioux City is located in Union County<4>.

The county had a population of 14,399 people at the 2010 Census. With it's population of 2,530 people, North Sioux City represented 17.57% of the county's total.

In addition, where the city of North Sioux City has a population density of 1,106 people per square mile [427.1 people/km²], Union County averages 31.27 people per square mile [12.07 people/km²].

For more information, please visit our Census Page for Union County.

Census-to-Census Observations ...

Introduction ...

When the Census Bureau takes a census count (or enumeration) for North Sioux City, they start by specifying the boundaries of the area to be counted. This area (or sampling area) is a polygon and its shape can be quite complex - it may or may not match the geographical boundaries of North Sioux City. It's important to note that from one Census to the next, the shape and location of the polygon can change.

• Continue Reading ...
  • Although we don't have specific information about the shape of the polygon for North Sioux City or how it changed has over time, there is some information that can give us some hints. For example, since the shape of the sampling area is directly related to the shape of the polygon, any change to area probably indicates a new shape for the polygon.
  • If you need precision or details about the methodology of the Census, you should visit the U.S. Census Bureau for a definitive answer.

Location ...

While generally coinciding with the GPS location (latitude/longitude) of North Sioux City, the latitude and longitude given by the Census Bureau actually indicates the GPS location of the polygon for North Sioux City.

• Continue Reading ...
  • For the 2010 Census, the location was given as:
  • Lat:   42.537816°   (or 42°32'16" N)
  • Lon:   -96.499788°   (or -96°29'59" W)
  • For the 2000 Census, the location given was:
  • Lat:   42.530999°   (or 42°31'51" N)
  • Lon:   -96.495494°   (or -96°29'43" W)
  • The difference indicates that the U.S. Census Bureau moved the location of the polygon for the 2010 Census 2,740 feet to the northwest<5> of the location that was used in the 2000 Census.
  • The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and the U.S. Board on Geographic Names (BGN) have assigned a unique GNIS identifier (#1267510) to North Sioux City. This identifier also marks a GPS point on the map, and that point lies within the boundaries of North Sioux City. The GNIS point has been mapped to the latitude/longitude:
  • Lat:   42.536661°   (or 42°32'11" N)
  • Lon:   -96.502531°   (or -96°30'9" W)
  • The GPS location given for the 2010 Census lies 848 feet to the northeast<6> of the point given by the GNIS for North Sioux City. For more information about this and the relationship of the various Federal Codes, please visit our Misc Page for North Sioux City.

Miscellaneous Information for North Sioux City ...

The Federal government has assigned various identifying codes to each community, county and state. At one time or another, the US Census Bureau has used one (or more) of the following identifiers when referring to either Union County or the city of North Sioux City:

• The GNIS Codes ...
  • The current system of identification is called the Geographic Names Information System (GNIS). The following GNIS codes relate to North Sioux City:
  • GNIS ID for North Sioux City: 1267510
  • GNIS ID for Union County: 1265763
  • GNIS ID for State of South Dakota: 1785534

• The FIPS Codes ...
  • An earlier (and largely obsolete) identification method was called the Federal Information Processing Standard (FIPS):
  • State Code: 46 (South Dakota)
  • County Code: 127 (Union County)
  • Place Code: 45700 (North Sioux City)
  • State & County Code: 46/127 (South Dakota / Union County)
  • State & Place Code: 46/45700 (South Dakota / North Sioux City)

• Misc. Census Codes ...
  • North Sioux City is located in Census Region #2 (the Midwest Region) and Division #4 (the West North-Central Division).

For more information about the various Federal identification codes, please visit our Misc Page for North Sioux City.

Off-the-Road Links ...

Unfortunately, we don't know of a website for North Sioux City. If you can help, please contact us through our Feedback Page.

The official website for State of South Dakota: sd.gov/

The official website of the U.S. Census Bureau

The official website of the U.S. Board on Geographic Names (BGN)

The official website of the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS)