FACULTY
Community Life
Dordt College is located in the vibrant rural community of Sioux Center, a growing town of 7,000 people in Northwest Iowa. Sioux Center is located 45 miles from Sioux City, Iowa, and 55 miles from Sioux Falls, South Dakota.
A community that has largely withstood the economic strains facing the country, Sioux Center is a growing community with strong businesses and industries. Real estate listings for Sioux Center and nearby towns can be found here.
Culture and Local Events
Sioux Center provides a number of interesting and exciting cultural offerings.
The Northwest Iowa Symphony Orchestra is hosted on Dordt’s campus and is comprised of the finest musicians in the tri-state area including adults, students, and gifted children. The Northwest Iowa Symphony Youth Orchestra is an exceptional experience for young adults.
The Chamber of Commerce has a small art gallery downtown and Dordt College has two art galleries used for student work and rotating exhibits from visiting artists.
The city hosts several events throughout the year including the Summer Celebration in June, which features a parade, art/craft vendors, cruise night, and a carnival for kids with a petting zoo and giant inflatables.
The Heritage Village, located across from Dordt’s campus, has a number of historical buildings including a sod hut, school house, and blacksmith shop. The annual Harvest Festival and Old-Fashioned Christmas celebration in the Village give the public opportunities to meet people in period costumes as they work within the village and sing Christmas carols.
Twelve miles east, in Orange City, is the Tulip Festival held in May. This annual festival is a celebration of the region’s Dutch heritage.
Recreation
There is always something fun to do in Sioux Center. The All Season’s Center has indoor and outdoor family aquatic centers and an ice rink (home to the Dordt College Blades) for skating and playing hockey.
The Ridge Golf Course features an 18-hole course that was named a Top 5 Golf Inc. National New Development of the Year.
The community has beautiful parks and a walking/biking path that goes through the Dordt College Prairie. The Prairie serves as a laboratory for students as well a serene space for anyone to enjoy this habitat.
The Sandy Hollow campground is considered Northwest Iowa’s Premier Outdoor Sporting Complex, and features archery ranges, fishing ponds, and camping grounds.
Churches
The Sioux Center community has a large number of churches from various denominations including Christian Reformed, United Reformed, Reformed Church in America, Lutheran, Presbyterian, Evangelical Free, Catholic, and Baptist. More about the churches can be found here.
Schools
Sioux Center offers several preschool options including Stepping Stones Preschool, a program run in coordination with Dordt College’s education department. Sioux Center has public K-12 schools and an excellent K-8 Christian school. Two neighboring towns have Christian high schools: Western Christian, located eight miles north in Hull, and Unity Christian, located 12 miles east in Orange City.
Health Care
From pediatric to geriatric care and from routine check-ups and emergency care, the Sioux Center Community Hospital and Health Center Avera is well-equipped with up-to-date technology. The comprehensive care system includes a hospital, medical clinic with six physicians and two nurse practitioners, the Cardiac Centre, independent and assisted living facilities, nursing home, and home health and hospice care. A new facility is being built and is expected to be completed in 2013.
Greater Sioux Community Health Center provides comprehensive and affordable primary health care services, focusing on providing services to Northwest Iowa’s underserved.
In addition, dentists, optometrists, chiropractors, orthodontists, and other health providers have offices in Sioux Center.
Shops, Cafés, and Dining
Sioux Center has several restaurants, coffee shops (one of which is on Dordt’s campus), and bakeries. A variety of shops line Main Street, and the Centre Mall is a great location to shop for clothes, browse for knickknacks, and catch a movie.
