Editing Storm Lake, Iowa (section)

== History ==
Storm Lake's first European settler, Abner Bell, arrived in 1856, and the city was officially incorporated in 1873.<ref name="auto">{{cite web | url=https://www.stormlake.org/532/Storm-Lake-History | title=Storm Lake History | publisher=City of Storm Lake | access-date=3 November 2023}}</ref> Though early settlers found no natives permanently occupying the land, the area around the lake was likely used for fishing and hunting by tribes traveling from the north. Centuries prior to European colonization, the area was home to the Mill Creek indigenous culture.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://buenavistacounty.iowa.gov/about/ | title=About | date=January 11, 2021 | publisher=Buena Vista County | access-date=24 November 2023}}</ref> Railroad magnate [[John Insley Blair]] platted out land in Storm Lake in the 1870s. During the same decade, the [[Illinois Central Railroad]] was constructed through the town.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.stormlake.com/articles/aspects-of-town-and-farm-life-in-the-very-early-days-of-storm-lake-township/ | title=Aspects of Town and Farm Life in the Very Early Days of Storm Lake Township | date=July 29, 2022 | publisher=Storm Lake Times Pilot | access-date=24 November 2023}}</ref>

The city of Storm Lake is named for the lake where it is said a [[Animal trapping|trapper]] experienced a severe storm.<ref>{{cite book | url=https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_bH8HtIwXzdcC | title=History of Western Iowa, Its Settlement and Growth | publisher=Western Publishing Company | year=1882 | pages=[https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_bH8HtIwXzdcC/page/n441 442]}}</ref> An alternate story claims the lake took its name after two star-crossed lovers from opposed Native American bands paddled out for a secret rendezvous, only to be drowned as a sudden storm blew in.<ref name="auto"/>

The 1920s and 1930s saw economic and industrial growth, with the town remaining relatively unaffected by the [[Great Depression]].<ref>{{cite web | url=https://iagenweb.org/buenavista/History/WPAHistory/12WPA1942History.html | title=Chapter 12: The Modern Scene | publisher=Iowa Writer’s Project | access-date=20 January 2024}}</ref> During the 1940s, a [[prisoner-of-war camp]] was temporarily established in Storm Lake.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.stormlake.com/articles/returning-to-our-roots/ | title=Returning to Our Roots | date=October 2, 2015 | publisher=Storm Lake Times | access-date=20 January 2024}}</ref> In 1956, the main building of the Buena Vista University campus burned down. The central brick archway was salvaged and remains standing.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.bvu.edu/news/remembering-burning-old-main | title=Remembering the Burning of Old Main | publisher=Buena Vista University | access-date=20 January 2024}}</ref>

Storm Lake was a landing place of [[Hmong people|Hmong]] and [[Tai Dam people|Tai Dam]] refugees following the [[Vietnam War]].<ref>{{cite news |title= They Crossed an Ocean to Butcher Pigs. It Was No American Dream. |url= https://www.nytimes.com/2019/10/13/us/iowa-pork-micronesia-workers.html  |work=The New York Times |date= October 13, 2019 |access-date=1 January 2023 |last1= Healy |first1= Jack }}</ref> Meat packing jobs have drawn thousands of migrant workers, predominantly from Latin America.<ref>{{cite web |title= Embracing diverse populations helps Storm Lake grow |url= https://www.thegazette.com/iowa-ideas/embracing-diverse-populations-helps-storm-lake-grow/ |publisher=The Gazette |access-date=20 August 2022}}</ref> Work vouchers and other factors have also drawn immigration from [[Federated States of Micronesia|Micronesia]]. Storm Lake is currently one of ten cities in the mainland United States to host a polling location for Micronesian elections.<ref>{{cite web |title= Turning Out The Vote For Micronesia |date= November 17, 2023 |url= https://www.stormlake.com/articles/turning-out-the-vote-for-micronesia/  |publisher=The Storm Lake Times |access-date=24 November 2023}}</ref> A 2017 ''[[The New York Times|New York Times]]'' profile analyzed the positive effects of immigration on the Storm Lake community.<ref>{{cite news |title= Immigrants Keep an Iowa Meatpacking Town Alive and Growing |url= https://www.nytimes.com/2017/05/29/business/economy/storm-lake-iowa-immigrant-workers.html  |work=The New York Times |date= May 29, 2017 |access-date=24 November 2023 |last1= Cohen |first1= Patricia }}</ref> Also that year, journalist [[Katie Couric]] interviewed Storm Lake residents for a ''[[National Geographic]]'' story on the town’s diversity.<ref>{{cite web |title= This Tiny Town Is Embracing Its Diversity |date= May 2, 2018 |url= https://www.nationalgeographic.com/culture/article/immigration-america-white-storm-lake-iowa-culture  |publisher=National Geographic |access-date=24 November 2023}}</ref> A 2020 article in [[Fox News]] highlighted Storm Lake as an example of the positive economic impacts of immigration on rural communities.<ref>{{cite web |title= Small Iowa city sees economic boom amid immigration surge |date= February 5, 2020 |url= https://www.foxnews.com/us/iowa-storm-lake-immigration-economy |publisher=Fox News |access-date=24 November 2023}}</ref>