Sioux City: The Little “C” Cluster that Could by Marie Scheffer

Submitted April 2026

The 9 January 2001 message from the Universal House of Justice called for the formation of geographic area clusters based on demographic characteristics such as culture, language, and infrastructure. From roughly Ridvan 2003 to Ridvan 2011, clusters were sorted by letter designations: “D” (unopened), “C” (establishing core activities), “B” (engaged in the institute process), and “A” (priority clusters ready for accelerated expansion).

In a letter dated 23 April 2002, the Regional Bahá’í Council of the Central States designated Sioux City as a “C+” cluster. The initial boundaries included Woodbury, Plymouth, Cherokee, and Ida Counties. In 2004, the boundaries were expanded to include Dakota County (NE) and Union County (SD) to align with the “Siouxland” tri-state concept. In 2012, Union County was moved to a different cluster, leaving Sioux City as a five-county, two-state cluster.

A July-August 2009 article in THE AMERICAN BAHA’I (p. 7), titled “Keep an eye on the underdogs,” noted that Sioux City and Davenport were “vying with each other to be the first ‘come out of nowhere’ cluster to launch” an intensive program of growth. The friends in Sioux City were highlighted for their neighborhood collective teaching and efforts to reach pure-hearted souls.

NOTE: As of this submission date, Sioux City has just been designated as a Milestone 2 cluster.