ZIP Code 50023

Ankeny is a city in Polk County, Iowa, United States. It is part of the Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA metropolitan statistical area. As of the 2020 census, the population of Ankeny was 67,887, making it the seventh largest city in the state. The city's industry was primarily agriculture specifically sorghum and swine production in the 19th century. In the early 20th century, coal mining became significant as many companies opened shafts and mines near the city in 1903, 1907, and 1908. The Enterprise Coal Company went on to produce over 100,000 tons of coal in 1914, ranking among the top 24 coal producers in Iowa. In 1966, Des Moines Area Community College purchased 240 acres on the southeast of Iowa State University to build a main campus. Also in the 1970s, Faith Baptist Bible College and Theological Seminary was established. In 1994, local and private interests began planning for a local airport in northeast Polk County. As a result of the project, the AnkenY Regional Airport opened in February 1994. In 2009, Ankeni was ranked No. 62 in MONEY Magazine's top 100 places to live list. It was formerly based in Omaha, Nebraska, and known as Omaha Bible Institute (OBBI) and Omaha Baptist College (OBBC) The F4 tornado struck the city along with Des Moines in June 1974, along with Runnells, Boundurant, Carlisle, and Carlisle Hill.

History

Ankeny was founded as an agrarian community on April 22, 1875, on eighty acres purchased on July 11, 1874, for US$1,600. In 1881, the town of Ankeny consisted of seven houses, a Methodist Church, a depot, a combination store/post office, livery stable, a blacksmith shop, rooming house, machine shop, and a school. In the early 20th century, coal mining became significant as many companies opened shafts and mines near the city in 1903, 1907, and 1908. Four significant fires ravaged the business district (locally known as uptown) between 1932 and 1940, but businesses rebuilt. The city's status was upgraded in 1961 from town to city by the state and federal government. An F4 tornado struck the city, along with Des Moines, Pleasant Hill, Runnells, Boundurant, and Carlisle, in June 1974, killing two and injuring fifty. In 1989, public and private interests began planning for a local airport, with the first flight being a Cessna 182 in February 1994. In 2005, the city agreed to invest up to $23 million in basic infrastructure for the city's Prairie Trail Trail district, which agreed to enter into a contract with a company. Later in September 2005, a new city district called Prairie Trail was created on the plot called Prairie Prairie Trail. In 2011, Iowa State University bought the plot for $20 million and sold it to Dennis Albaugh, whose company submitted a proposal for the same price.

Geography

Ankeny is located in north-central Polk County. It is bordered on the east by Interstate 35, with U.S. Route 69 running through the center of the town. According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 29.33 square miles (75.96 km²), all land. The City itself states that 29.14 square miles of that land is incorporated. The bedrock the city sits on is part of the Cherokee Group and composed of primarily grey shale and sandstone, with secondary black shale, coal, and mudstone. Ankeny exists at the bottom area of the Des Moines Lobe, a topographical landscape area, in an area known as the Bemis Advance. The Lobe was formed during the Wisconsin glaciation leaving significant deposits resulting in a area with low relief. The water table is seasonally elevated and the city is located on dry land with a small number of park ponds and streams. The city is in Polk County, which is home to the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point and the College of Northern Iowa. The University of Iowa has a chapter of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. The college has a history that dates back to the 17th century. It was the first college in the state to admit women. The university also has a women's center, which was founded in the late 1800s. The town has a library, which opened in the early 1900s. It has been the home of the Iowa Shakespeare Festival since the 1930s.

Climate

According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Ankeny has a hot-summer humid continental climate, abbreviated "Dfa" on climate maps. The city has a population of 2,000. The town is located on the Mississippi River, which flows through the city. The river runs through the center of the city, near the town's downtown area. It is also known as "Ankeny's River" and "The River of the River" by locals. It has a reputation for being a hot, humid summer town. The area has a high percentage of people who have been to the U.S. on a regular basis. It also has a low percentage of residents who have lived in the city for more than a few years, due to its proximity to the Mississippi. The average age of the town is 33.5 years, while the average for the city is 33 years old. The climate is hot and humid in the summer, with highs of over 100 °F (32.7 °C) and lows of around 50 °S (24.7°F) in the winter. The temperature is also hot and dry in the spring and summer months, with high temperatures of between 50 and 60 degrees (15 and 25 °M) and low temperatures of up to 50 degrees (16 and 25°F). The average annual rainfall is 1.7 inches (4.3 mm) and the average yearly temperature is 2.4 inches (7.4 metres).

Demographics

Since the city's first census results in 1910 of 445 inhabitants, Ankeny's population has grown to an estimated 67,887 people in 2020, an increase of 48% from the 45,562 of the 2010 census. The city has requested a special census every decade since the 1970s in 1975, 1985, 1994, 2005, and 2014. The growth has also led to infrastructure strain and challenges. Nearly 80% of An Keny residents surveyed in 2018 to agree the city’s population growth was "somewhat too fast" or "much too fast". The city was listed as the fourth fastest growing city July 2016 2017 with a growth rate of 6.4% and the tenth fastest growing July 2017 2018 with a Growth rate of 4.6%. Increased population numbers allows the city to accrue an estimated $4.5 million more in allocated state funding for road construction and repairs. The median income in the city was $51,914 while average income was $70,883. Family income had a median of $62,982 and average of $82,446. Poverty affecting families was present at a 10.1% general rate with a 28.9% rate of families run by single mothers. Poverty affected 13.8% of inhabitants, 19.2% of minor inhabitants, and 12.1%, of those 18 years old and older. The gender makeup of the city is 49.0% male and 51.0%, of whom 27.7% were under the age of 18.

Economy

Ankeny city government's fiscal year 2020 budget listed total property values of $779 million in commercial, $177 million in industrial, $56 million in utilities, $113 million in multi-residential, and $4.64 billion in residential property. In 2018, the budget reads, Ankeny "saw one of its best years for construction activity" The largest businesses by highest taxable valuation are as follows: Deere & Company ($42.6 million), DRA Properties, LC ($36 million), Mid-American Energy ($27.4 million), and Perishable Distributors of Iowa, Ltd. (a Hy-Vee subsidiary) ($17.3 million) The United States Census Bureau estimates that between 2013 and 2017 that 78.7% of the population 16 years old and older were part of the civilian labor force with 73.4% specifically for women.Previously in 2012, the Census Bureau's Survey of Business Owners (SBO) reported that 4,388 businesses called An Keny home with a total reported $8.081 billion in business and $748 million in annual payroll. Of those businesses, the reported industries were 619 construction, 143 wholesale, 547 retail, 198 transportation and warehousing, 93 data and information technology, 279 finance and insurance, 491 real estate and rental, 478 professional, scientific, and technical services, and 248 administrative, supportive, waste management, and remediation. The median home value is $197,500.

Parks and recreation

Ankeny currently has 60 parks covering over 800 acres with a mixture of recreational facilities. The city has two sports complexes, Prairie Ridge Sports Complex and Hawkeye Park Sports Complex. Otter Creek Golf Course, a 200.6 acre facility, is a public golf venue. Artistic and cultural organizations also exist within the city such as the Ankeny Area Historical Society, An Keny Art Center, and Ankenys Community Band. The Ankenies closed their YMCA on March 1, 2019 due to problems with funding and a decline in the number of members. They were previously part of the YMca of Greater Des Moines, which was based in Iowa City, Iowa, but moved to Iowa City in 2010. The YMCC was closed due to funding problems and a declining number of membership members. In 2019, the city estimates 160,000 attendees to the two aquatic centers during the summer season, over 14,000 sports events held at the two complexes, over 36,000 participants in public programming (with about 7,600 of those in senior citizen programs), and 29,300 rounds of golf played at Otter creek. The City also has a dog park, bandshell, skate park, disc golf course, and more. It has many trail areas in the city totaling over 100 miles of length. It also has an "all-inclusive" playground specifically designed to accommodate special needs youth. It adjoins the nearby AnkenY Miracle League baseball field, which provides a location for a local special needs baseball league.

Government

The city code of Ankeny specifies the municipal governance is in the form of a Mayorcouncil government. The Mayor and City Council officers are elected for four year terms with Council terms overlapping. The office of Mayor, as listed in the city code, acts as the city CEO and supervises the whole of city governance, representing the city. The council maintains local legal, economic, civic, and public authority over the city, as well as appointing city officers. One member of the council is appointed by the Mayor as Mayor Pro-Tem whom also serves as vice-president and discharges the Mayor's duties if absent or unable. Mayor veto of Council decisions can be overridden by supermajority. The baseline mayoral salary is $10,000 yearly plus expense reimbursement. Councilor salaries are $7,000 annually. The current Mayor is Mark Holm, a former City Council member. Holm was elected in November 2021 and took office in January 2022. The city council consists of five members. Current members are Bobbi Bentz (Mayor Pro Tem), Kelly Whiting, Jeff Perry, Todd Shafer, and Joe Ruddy. The mayor also appoints one of the members of the city council as Mayorpro Tem, who serves as Vice-President of the City Council and discharging the Mayor’s duties if Absent or Unable. In regards to Council legislation, the Mayor may only approve, veto, or disregard, never voting on the legislation. Any elected positions in the City fall under Chapter 376 of the Code of Iowa.

Education

Ankeny's public school district is the sixth largest district of its kind in the state with an approximate $190 million yearly budget. In 2013, the community school district split into the current two high school system. Ankeny Christian Academy is a private, accredited, and non-denominational Christian school that offers both primary and secondary schooling. St. Luke the Evangelist Catholic School was opened in August 2015 by the Diocese of Des Moines on the western side of the city at 1102 NW Weigel. PrivateFaith Baptist Bible College and Theological Seminary has been an institution in the city since 1967. Iowa State University formerly operated a research farm in south An Keny. However, that land was sold off in 2005 and is now being developed as the Prairie Trail district. The city is home to the DMACC campus, which educates over 15,000 students on their 304-acre plot. It is also home to Upper Iowa University, based in Fayette, Iowa, which operates an extension facility in the City. The AnkenY Community School District is the only school district in Iowa that does not have its own high school. The district has two feeder systems with corresponding institutions: Dowling Catholic High School in West Des Moines and the Ankenysh Indian School of the Arts and Sciences in Iowa City. It was established in February 1992 and opened its doors in August 1993, moving to its current 1604 West 1st Street location in early 2000. The school initially housed K-3rd grade students. Each year following, a new grade is added until it serves K-8th grade students in 2020.

Infrastructure

The city of Ankeny lists 543 miles of road, 369 cul-de-sacs, 6,238 street lights, and 72 traffic signals on city roadways. Des Moines Area Regional Transit (a.k.a. DART), a public transit agency, operates an express bus route between Ankenys and Des Moines. AnkenY Regional Airport, a public, non-commercial airport, provides air access to the city. The airport currently claims to be the state's third-busiest and allows corporate, individual, and freight use. It is a relief airport for Des Moines International Airport. The route includes stops at DMACC'sAnkeny Campus and the High Trestle Trail trailhead in the city, as well as on-call shuttle services in the City. The city also has a public library, which is open to the public on weekdays. The library is also open on the weekend and offers free Wi-Fi to the general public. It also offers free parking on weekends and holidays for the city's low-income residents. It was founded in 1883 and is located on the former site of a former rail yard. It has been converted into a public housing complex, which was built in the 1960s and 1970s. It currently has a parking lot that is used by the Des Moines area's homeless population. It offers free rides to and from the city for the duration of the day, and the city also offers a free shuttle service in the evenings.

Air Quality, Water Quality, Superfund Sites & UV Index

The Air Quality index is in Ankeny, Polk County, Iowa = 65.4. These Air Quality index is based on annual reports from the EPA. Higher values are better (100=best). The number of ozone alert days is used as an indicator of air quality, as are the amounts of seven pollutants including particulates, carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, lead, and volatile organic chemicals. The Water Quality Index is 60. A measure of the quality of an area’s water supply as rated by the EPA. Higher values are better (100=best). The EPA has a complex method of measuring the watershed quality, using 15 indicators such as pollutants, turbidity, sediments, and toxic discharges. The Superfund Sites Index is 32. Higher is better (100=best). Based upon the number and impact of EPA Superfund pollution sites in the county, including spending on the cleanup efforts. The UV Index in Ankeny = 4 and is a measure of an area's exposure to the sun's ultraviolet rays. This is most often a combination of sunny weather, altitude, and latitude. The UV Index has been defined by the WHO (www.who.int/news-room/questions-and-answers/item/radiation-the-ultraviolet-(uv)-index) and is uniform worldwide.

Employed

The most recent city population of 67,887 individuals with a median age of 33.9 age the population grows by 47.80% in Ankeny, Polk County, Iowa population since 2000 and are distributed over a density of 2,227.92 residents per square mile of area (860.21/km²). There are average 2.54 people per household in the 15,531 households with an average household income of $66,996 a year. The unemployment rate in Alabama is 3.60% of the available work force and has dropped -0.40% over the most recent 12-month period and the projected change in job supply over the next decade based on migration patterns, economic growth, and other factors will increase by 35.60%. The number of physicians in Ankeny per 100,000 population = 279.3.

Weather

The annual rainfall in Ankeny = 31.4 inches and the annual snowfall = 25.2 inches. The annual number of days with measurable precipitation (over .01 inch) = 91. The average number of days per year that are predominantly sunny = 204. 86 degrees Fahrenheit is the average daily high temperature for the month of July and 9.7 degrees Fahrenheit is the average daily low temperature for the month of January. The Comfort Index (higher=better) is 44, where higher values mean a more pleasant climate. The Comfort Index measure recognizes that humidity by itself isn't the problem. (Have you noticed nobody ever complains about the weather being 'cold and humid?) It's in the summertime that we notice the humidity the most, when it's hot and muggy. Our Comfort Index uses a combination of afternoon summer temperature and humidity to closely predict the effect that the humidity will have on people.

Median Home Cost

The percentage of housing units in Ankeny, Polk County, Iowa which are owned by the occupant = 66.98%. A housing unit is a house, apartment, mobile home, or room occupied as separate living quarters. The average age of homes = 12 years with median home cost = $165,130 and home appreciation of -1.20%. This is the value of the years most recent home sales data. Its important to note that this is not the average (or arithmetic mean). The median home price is the middle value when you arrange all the sales prices of homes from lowest to highest. This is a better indicator than the average, because the median is not changed as much by a few unusually high or low values. The property tax rate of $16.13 shown here is the rate per $1,000 of home value. If for simplification for example the tax rate is $14.00 and the home value is $250,000, the property tax would be $14.00 x ($250,000/1000), or $3500. This is the 'effective' tax rate.

Study

The local school district spends $4,343 per student. There are 17.1 students for each teacher in the school, 275 students for each Librarian and 403 students for each Counselor. 10.23% of the area’s population over the age of 25 with an Associate Degree or other 2-year college degree, 29.03% with a master’s degree, Ph.D. or other advanced college degree and 10.76% with high school diplomas or high school equivalency degrees (GEDs).