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Considering moving from Iowa City to Sioux Falls SD.....opinions?

crash_zone

crash_zone

Well-Known Member
Apr 10, 2006
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Sioux Falls, SD
Curious if any CF's live in Sioux Falls and could give their opinion on the place?

Aside from spending 3 days there while my wife was interviewing for a job and what I was able to read on Wikipedia, I don't know much about the town. Is it a good place to live/raise a family? Are winters noticeably worse than central Iowa?

I'm looking forward to living in a town with a smaller % of hawkeye fans.
 
Never lived there, but my bride is from NW Iowa, so I've been there a few times. From what I have been able to gather, it's a pretty nice place. Not as good as Des Moines, but not as bad either, if you catch my meaning. It can get crazy cold up there, much colder than central Iowa, but the summers aren't as oppressive either (still gets hot).

You can get about anything there you can get in Des Moines. The drive to Ames is quite a bit longer though.

Not much, I know, but more than nothing. Unless you enjoy the big time college atmosphere (don't flame me...you all know what I mean), the move wouldn't be a bad one, IMO.
 
Great place to raise a family, but it is a bit colder than Iowa (but not too much worse). You will find good shopping for the size of the town, and pretty much everything you need. Omaha is only 2.5-3 hours away or so if you need anything else occasionally or want to "get away." Housing is fairly affordable from what I know, but you will still see some Hawkeyes around, probably due to being close to NW Iowa. You can PM me if you have any questions, and I'll do my best to answer.
 
I spent two years living in SF about 10 years ago. It seemed like everyone there either grew up in South Dakota or within a 2 hour radius. I mean everyone! There isn't much for traffic, which is nice. Tom Daschel was in office forever and managed to get lots of road projects paid for.
I would think it is a decent place to raise a family, but I was rather bored there as a young single.
 
Fair and growing Midwest town. Great tax climate in the state, cold weather. It's about all been said!
 
I live in sioux falls, it is usually colder than central iowa. We still have season isu basketball and football tickets, the drive isnt to bad. I actually see more iowa state fans at the store than you would think.
 
My hubby went to jr high/high school in Brandon which is just east of SF--and the way SF is spreading east, it is like Ankeny to DSM (except it is still a pretty small town). His parent and some other family still live there so we get there 1-2 times a year. The mall is nice (I am used to the Ames mall, so anything is nicer than that!) and there is lots to do. I thought Bubu Paulo just signed with the Skyforce there, you can catch basketball games. They either are in the process of or just finished a new Children's hospital there.

I think there is a growing Cyclone fan base in that area. Recently a group from the ISU marching band went to a few schools in Sioux Falls and then played at a high school basketball game in Brandon, so there is some exposure up there. We always give the in laws Cyclone gear since they sent 2 of 4 kids here.
 
I have only been through there, but have spent a lot of time, say from NW Iowa to the Black Hills.

The summer heat is more of a dry heat or at least many more days that are dry, and not nearly as oppressive as the more often constant heat and humidity in IC. Nights and evenings are similarly cooler and more pleasant.
 
Cybirdy said:
My hubby went to jr high/high school in Brandon which is just east of SF--and the way SF is spreading east, it is like Ankeny to DSM (except it is still a pretty small town). His parent and some other family still live there so we get there 1-2 times a year. The mall is nice (I am used to the Ames mall, so anything is nicer than that!) and there is lots to do. I thought Bubu Paulo just signed with the Skyforce there, you can catch basketball games. They either are in the process of or just finished a new Children's hospital there.

I think there is a growing Cyclone fan base in that area. Recently a group from the ISU marching band went to a few schools in Sioux Falls and then played at a high school basketball game in Brandon, so there is some exposure up there. We always give the in laws Cyclone gear since they sent 2 of 4 kids here.
Click to expand...

The children's hospital is finished, and that is actually a great point; the medical care is great in SF (not that Iowa City is bad obviously).
 
The Sioux Falls are pretty cool. Don't stay at the Super 8 across from the football stadium. Worse smelling hotel I've ever been in.
Sorry, that's all I got.
 
Went on a job interview there many years ago. As I walked into the building for my 130 appointment, the bank sign across the street said -17. That's all I remember.
 
I assume that right-of-way on creeks/rivers are the same in South Dakota as in Iowa? i.e. land owner has rights to the center of the water, not like some states where it is public ROW high water line on either side.

The next question: is it better to live 2 hrs away from your parents or live 8 hrs away but make a lot more money?
 
Moving on Up.

Nice, decent size town on the prairie. You could do worse like Minot. I-29 south is okay. Couple good reservoirs in the area. Walleye. Closer to Black Hills. Peasant hunting. Ice Fishing. Dog country. You can always move in a few years.
 
crash_zone said:
I assume that right-of-way on creeks/rivers are the same in South Dakota as in Iowa? i.e. land owner has rights to the center of the water, not like some states where it is public ROW high water line on either side.

The next question: is it better to live 2 hrs away from your parents or live 8 hrs away but make a lot more money?
Click to expand...
If the question was in laws 8 hrs is a no brainer. 2 hrs they don't spend the night as much which is a plus and can still watch kids for a weekend fairly easily. 8 hrs is pretty far. Lot of factors though including the jobs themselves.

I weighed a move to East Lansing a couple years ago. I took my 6 year old with me to check it out. I would have made 70% more money and be a similar job. When we were driving back and got into Iowa they were talking on the radio about Hoiberg going to Minnesota or the NBA (this was right after Dayton OSU loss) And I said "he isn't going anywhere now, this is his home and his family is here and kids are growing up here he has what he needs and so that other stuff I think is worth more than money". My son responded "but dad, Iowa is our home and our family is here and we have enough money so why are we thinking about leaving?". I was on the fence before that but I realized he was right. I would be trading a lot including a job and place I knew I liked for a little extra money and a job and place I thought I would like but not sure. So at the end of the day for me it came down to I like what I do, love Iowa, love being near family and friends and wanted my kids to be Iowans. I applied the Hoiberg test and for me realized I had a pretty see deal that would be foolish to gamble and trade what I had on anything but a sure bet.

So only you can figure that out! I grew up in Iowa City fwiw. I have been a Cyclone fan since birth (we moved there when I was in elementary school and my parents are ISU alums and Cyclones) and I think growing up in the heart of Hawkeye a Cyclone fan made me tougher (kinda like a boy named sue :).
 
I just put up my Iowa City house for sale too.... Huge drop in population when you jump on the moving van with me. I'm going to Des Moines though.....not SF..
 
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