South Sioux City is a true example of a community with heart in the heart of the country. In countless ways, South Sioux City expresses and lives up to its motto: "Quality of life is a cardinal rule." A community that, through the course of its history, has changed names, survived natural calamity, overcome the ravages of the river and continues to grow into a vigorous and prosperous home to its citizens.

One of the first white men in the South Sioux City area was Sergeant Floyd, a member of the Lewis and Clark Expedition who was buried on a bluff near South Sioux City in 1804. The story of South Sioux City is entwined in the tale of several towns and activities on both sides of the Missouri River.

Gustave Pecaut, a French-speaking native of Switzerland, immigrated to America and engaged in fur trading, building a cabin near the Missouri River in 1854. He is believed to be the first white settler in what is now South Sioux City. Several town sites were registered and or changed names between the years of 1856 and 1870, including Harney City, Pacific City, Stanton, Newport, Covington, and South Covington. At its peak, "Stanton" boasted 30 buildings, 13 of which were saloons.