Ankeny joins growing list of Des Moines suburbs planning a special census. Who's next?

Chris Higgins, Des Moines Register
Updated ·2 min read

Ankeny has joined a long list of Des Moines suburbs pursuing a special census to capture their rapid population growth.

On Tuesday, the Ankeny City Council approved a memorandum of agreement with the U.S. Census Bureau to conduct a special census this year. The regular census to count the population of every community in the United States happens every 10 years, with the last one conducted in 2020, but cities can request a special census in between to update their official count.

For fast-growing cities like Ankeny, that could mean more funding from sources tied to population, especially road use taxes. The 2020 census recorded 67,887 people living in Ankeny, but city officials estimate the city now has a population of around 74,000 after continued residential development. The increase could bring $780,120 of additional revenue to Ankeny each year, according to city documents.

More: These 4 Des Moines metro suburbs have grown so much they need a special census

Cities cover the cost of a special census. Ankeny's cost is expected to be about $1.4 million and covered with road use tax funds, according to city documents.

Ankeny's special census is tentatively scheduled to count the population as of Aug. 15 this year. The city joins most other Des Moines suburbs in planning a special census as the metro area experiences rapid population growth, including:

  • Bondurant in fall 2024.

  • Norwalk in summer 2024.

  • Johnston in spring 2025.

  • Altoona in summer 2025.

  • Pleasant Hill in summer 2024.

  • Waukee in summer 2024.

  • Grimes in spring 2025.

Lucinda Stephenson, a spokesperson for the city of West Des Moines, told the Des Moines Register on Wednesday that officials there are planning for a partial special census in 2024 and expect to apply in a few months. Cities can request a special census of their entire area or just a portion. Further details about West Des Moines' plans are to be announced.

More: As suburbs annex land, how big will places like Ankeny and West Des Moines get?

Some area communities have more than doubled in population since 2000, and rapid growth in the Des Moines metro is expected to continue with new housing, land annexations, commercial development and industrial sites. The metro area grew to 709,000 people in the 2020 Census, and that number is expected to rise after the upcoming special censuses.

Chris Higgins covers the eastern suburbs for the Register. Reach him at chiggins@registermedia.com or 515-423-5146 and follow him on Twitter @chris_higgins_.

This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Ankeny, West Des Moines, Johnston planning for a special census count