Interstate access and scenic trails connect Sergeant Bluff
Industrial meets residential in Sergeant Bluff. The city’s first brickmaking business opened in the late 1800s. It’s still home to a brick manufacturing plant, as well as factories and plants for a variety of other industries. Sergeant Bluff is well-connected to the area through Interstate 29 and an airport on the other side of the highway. Yet the community maintains a close-knit feeling with its local amenities and facilities. “It’s a small town with good schools,” says Gary Coon, board member of the Sergeant Bluff Historical Society. “It has a great walkability throughout the town and connects to Sioux City." The Loess Hills Scenic Trail is between the two cities.
Newer ranch-style homes mix with remodeled 1970s houses
The average home value in Sergeant Bluff is $370,000, higher than Sioux City Metro’s average of $250,000. Single-family homes tend to be around 2,000 square feet, on par with the national average. “The city has a lot of newer housing developments and apartments,” Coon says. These newer homes are often Craftsman-inspired Ranch-style houses. Older Split-level and Ranch-style homes from the 1970s are frequently remodeled. The median lot size is about a quarter of an acre, and properties are typically shaded by large trees. Most neighborhoods have driveway parking, sidewalks and wide streets.
Students choose career tracks at Sergeant Bluff-Luton High
Sergeant Bluff-Luton Elementary serves preschool through second grade, while Sergeant Bluff-Luton Primary is for third through fifth grade. Students can then move on to Sergeant Bluff-Luton Middle. All three schools earn an A-minus grade from Niche. At B-plus-rated Sergeant Bluff-Luton High, all students are required to pick a college and career pathway in subjects like agriculture, applied sciences or the arts. A new multi-sport complex was built in 2025. “The high school has new football, baseball, softball fields and six new tennis/pickleball courts,” Coon says.
Parks, sports leagues and events bring the community together
The city has multiple parks and a recreation complex. The various amenities include a disc golf course, pickleball courts and an indoor batting facility. “The swimming and splash pad are open in the summer,” Coon says. Adults and kids can join sports leagues through the Sergeant Bluff Parks & Recreation Department. The department hosts the annual Spooky Fest and Howl-O-Ween Dog Parade. “The museum, city and library also sponsor events throughout the year,” Coon says. Pioneer Valley Days runs for several days in August. Residents and visitors gather for festivities like outdoor movie nights, petting zoos & pony rides and a dart tournament.
Family-friendly restaurants and a hometown grocery store
The city has a handful of local restaurants, some of which are within walking distance of specific neighborhoods. Mateo Kitchen and Catering serves authentic Filipino dishes and boba tea. Eddie's Tavern is a casual spot that opened in 1957. It has a pool table, televisions and a patio for sitting outside. Kate's is a cafe with a soda and ice cream fountain. There are also a handful of chain fast-food eateries. Fareway Meat and Grocery is the grocer in town, but there are more shopping options in Sioux City, including Walmart. Lakeport Commons Shopping Center has retail and restaurants.
Nearby airport offers flights to Chicago and Denver
Interstate 29 divides the city into residential and industrial areas. Sioux City is about an 8-mile drive north on I-29. Sioux Falls is around 90 miles north, and Omaha is approximately 90 miles south. Sioux Gateway Airport is across from Sergeant Bluff. It offers direct flights to Chicago and Denver. Sioux City Transit buses connect Sergeant Bluff to the airport and nearby cities on Route 11. There is some walkability, but the area is mostly car-dependent. Those who travel around by golf carts are now required to get a permit.
