PUBLIC. NEW AT NOON, AT LEAST TWO METRO CITIES WILL PARTICIPATE IN A SPECIAL CENSUS THIS SUMMER. SOME CITIES HAD TO PAUSE THE EFFORT LAST YEAR DUE TO FEDERAL JOB CUTS. BOTH JOHNSTON AND WEST DES MOINES PLAN TO HAVE WORKERS GO DOOR TO DOOR, GATHERING INFORMATION FROM PEOPLE WHO DO NOT COMPLETE THE CENSUS ONLINE OR BY PHONE. THE PURPOSE OF THIS SPECIAL CENSUS IS TO UPDATE THE POPULATION COUNT, WHICH WILL IMPACT FUNDING FOR ROAD MAINTENANCE AND REPAIRS. THERE ARE T
Central Iowa cities gathering updated population count with special census
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Updated: 12:19 PM CDT Jun 17, 2025
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At least five central Iowa cities will participate in special census counts this summer. Officials in Altoona, Clive, Grimes, Johnston and West Des Moines are seeking updated population figures due to growth since the last national census in 2020. At that point Altoona had a population of 19,565, Clive 18,601, Grimes 15,392, Johnston 24,064 and West Des Moines 68,723.Higher population counts can mean additional Road Use Tax Funds, which help cities pay for street maintenance, snow removal, infrastructure improvements and more. Otherwise Iowa uses the once-a-decade head count as the official population when it comes to funding based on population size."If the Census shows that the population has increased, staff is estimating West Des Moines would receive an additional $5.6 million in Road Use Tax Revenue over the course of 2026-2030," according to a news release. If the special census shows at least 2,400 more Johnston residents since 2020, the city would will receive an additional $320,000 per year, according to a post on the Johnston website. "This amounts to over $1.6 million between now and the next decennial census. Delaying until the national census in 2030 could result in our community missing out on millions of dollars."West Des Moines officials anticipate the special census to cost the city approximately $405,000, while a Johnston spokesperson said theirs would be about $580,000. Altoona's will cost about $565,000, which the city officials expect to recoup that cost within 18 months.Several metro cities conducted special census counts in 2024, including Ankeny, Bondurant, Pleasant Hill, Polk City, Norwalk and Waukee. Each saw significant population increases, resulting in additional funding. (See last year's special census results below.)Click these links for more information about special census counts:AltoonaClive: More details to be released soon, according to a city spokespersonGrimesJohnstonWest Des Moines Click here to see what local census jobs are available — and to apply. 2024 special census results in central Iowa Ankeny: 67,887 to 76,207 — 12.26% population growth since 2020Bondurant: 7,365 to 9,393 — 27.53% population growth since 2020Pleasant Hill: 10,147 to 11,079 — 9.18% population growth since 2020Polk City: 5,543 to 6,533 — 17.86% population growth since 2020Norwalk: 12,799 to 14,334 — 11.99% population growth since 2020 Waukee: 23,940 to 31,823 — 33% population growth since 2020
At least five central Iowa cities will participate in special census counts this summer.
Officials in Altoona, Clive, Grimes, Johnston and West Des Moines are seeking updated population figures due to growth since the . At that point Altoona had a population of 19,565, Clive 18,601, Grimes 15,392, Johnston 24,064 and West Des Moines 68,723.
Higher population counts can mean additional , which help cities pay for street maintenance, snow removal, infrastructure improvements and more. Otherwise Iowa uses the once-a-decade head count as the official population when it comes to funding based on population size.
"If the Census shows that the population has increased, staff is estimating West Des Moines would receive an additional $5.6 million in Road Use Tax Revenue over the course of 2026-2030," according to a news release.
If the special census shows at least 2,400 more Johnston residents since 2020, the city would will receive an additional $320,000 per year, . "This amounts to over $1.6 million between now and the next decennial census. Delaying until the national census in 2030 could result in our community missing out on millions of dollars."
West Des Moines officials anticipate the special census to cost the city approximately $405,000, while a Johnston spokesperson said theirs would be about $580,000. Altoona's will cost about $565,000, which the city officials expect to recoup that cost within 18 months.
Several metro cities conducted special census counts in 2024, including Ankeny, Bondurant, Pleasant Hill, Polk City, Norwalk and Waukee. Each saw significant population increases, resulting in additional funding. (See last year's special census results below.)
Click these links for more information about special census counts:
- Clive: More details to be released soon, according to a city spokesperson
to see what local census jobs are available — and to apply.
2024 special census results in central Iowa
- Ankeny: 67,887 to 76,207 — 12.26% population growth since 2020
- Bondurant: 7,365 to 9,393 — 27.53% population growth since 2020
- Pleasant Hill: 10,147 to 11,079 — 9.18% population growth since 2020
- Polk City: 5,543 to 6,533 — 17.86% population growth since 2020
- Norwalk: 12,799 to 14,334 — 11.99% population growth since 2020
- Waukee: 23,940 to 31,823 — 33% population growth since 2020
