Population and Demographics

Buena Vista County has one of the fastest-growing "out-of-state" populations in Iowa. According to the 2000 Census, Storm Lake had an increase of 15.9% in population, while the state increase was 5.4%. The diverse population of Buena Vista County provides a wide range of customers, potential employees, and marketing possibilities. Your needs for bilingual customer service personnel can be met here.

Workforce

Between the 1990 and the 2000 Census, Storm Lake grew by 1300 people, with the largest growing age group between 45 and 64 years of age. Nearly half of all Buena Vista County adults have some post-secondary education, while another 36 percent are high school graduates. Employers have the opportunity to hire interns from Buena Vista University and recruit from its graduates. The labor force continues to grow with the population.
Diversity

When compared with the State of Iowa, Buena Vista County has larger populations of Asian and Hispanic residents. In 2000, just over four percent of the county's population was Asian, compared to just over one percent in the state, while people of Hispanic origin made up 12.5 percent compared to the state's 2.8 percent.

The City of Storm Lake has adapted well to these changes in demographics, forming a diversity task force and hiring community service personnel to help with language barriers. Many new businesses have emerged to serve the diverse population, often owned and operated by people with the same background. Other towns are turning to Storm Lake as an example and a resource for how to constructively respond to these changes.

Find more information at www.seta.iastate.edu