Historic sites and small-town resilience shape Hawarden today
Hawarden preserves its past while keeping a focus on moving forward. The Hawarden Historical Society maintains several historic sites, including Calliope Village, a recreation of Sioux County’s first village. In 2024, the city was impacted by flooding and around 200 homes were damaged, as well as businesses. Hawarden residents quickly came together to support and rebuild their community. The city has a population of around 2,700. “It is the perfect small-town location with fantastic amenities within the community and accessibility to other options less than an hour away,” says Tara Ramos, vice president of the Hawarden Chamber of Commerce.
Tree-lined streets with homes dating back to the early 1900s
Housing is a mix of two-story properties and bungalows from the early 1900s to newly built ranch-style homes. Houses tend to be around 1,500 square feet, and the median lot size is close to a quarter of an acre. The average home value in Hawarden is around $160,000, lower than the Sioux City Metro Area’s average of $250,000. The quiet, residential streets are in a grid pattern; some have sidewalks while others do not. Large established trees often shade homes, and driveways are common in most neighborhoods.
Elementary schools split grades across two local campuses
Preschool to first grade students can attend Ireton Elementary, and Hawarden Elementary serves second through fifth grade. Both schools get a B-minus grade from Niche. West Sioux Middle School/High School share a campus but have different Niche scores. The middle school is B-minus-rated, while the high school has a C-plus rating. Students can take career and technical classes in family and consumer science, agriculture, business and marketing, and information technology. Ireton Christian School is a kindergarten through eighth grade private option that does not currently have a Niche score.
Big Sioux River Days and local parks bring the community together
The city has six parks that have amenities like softball and baseball diamonds. Hawarden City Park is home to the Hawarden Veterans Memorial. It also has an outdoor swimming pool where families can pay per visit or purchase annual passes. Kids can join recreational soccer and T-ball teams. The area has several large nature and recreation centers, including Big Sioux Recreation Area. Outdoor enthusiasts go there to fish, hike and birdwatch.
Some venues in the area double as a dining option. “Our bowling alley, golf course and pubs in town serve delicious food and offer the best entertainment like live music, karaoke, sand volleyball and tournaments,” Ramos says. The Hawarden Chamber of Commerce hosts Big Sioux River Days, a five-day event with a jam-packed calendar. Saturday might hold a basketball tournament and a kids water fight. Sunday’s festivities could include crowning Little Miss Sioux River Days and fireworks.
Sushi, diners and pubs provide food and entertainment options
Hawarden has a few chain restaurants as well as some locally owned eateries. “Pina Colada is an amazing Sushi restaurant,” Ramos says. Route 10 Drive-In is a 1950s-style diner that offers drive-through and dine-in services. Thift stores, gift shops and boutiques are scattered throughout downtown. "There is a great grocery store in town, as well as two different Hispanic grocers with fresh fruit and amazing meat options,” Ramos says. There are a few major employers in the area, including manufacturing and healthcare companies. Hawarden Regional Healthcare, a hospital with a 24-hour emergency room, is also located near downtown.
Hawarden sits between Sioux City and Sioux Falls
Hawarden is a car-dependent area, with some walkability in the downtown area and no public transportation. It’s by the intersection of State Highway 10 and State Highway 12, leading towards Southeast South Dakota and Western Iowa. It’s around a 15-mile drive to Interstate 29 and a 45-mile drive to Interstate 90.
“While we have everything you may need, we are also centrally located between Sioux City and Sioux Falls, where the options are vast for dining, nightlife and other entertainment,” Ramos says. Sioux Gateway Airport is about 50 miles south and has daily flights to Chicago and Denver. Sioux Falls Regional Airport is around 60 miles north and has direct flights to several U.S. cities.
