Johnston, Iowa facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Johnston, Iowa
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Johnston welcome sign
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| Motto(s):
Thrive. Every Day.
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Location of Johnston, Iowa
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| Country |  United States |
| State |  Iowa |
| County | Polk |
| Incorporated | September 18, 1969 |
| Government | |
| • Type | Mayor-council government |
| Area | |
| • Total | 20.88 sq mi (54.07 km2) |
| • Land | 19.39 sq mi (50.23 km2) |
| • Water | 1.48 sq mi (3.84 km2) |
| Elevation | 824 ft (251 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 24,064 |
| • Rank | 24th in Iowa |
| • Density | 1,240.92/sq mi (479.12/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP code |
50131
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| Area code(s) | 515 |
| FIPS code | 19-39765 |
| GNIS feature ID | 2395474 |
| Website | www.cityofjohnston.com |
Johnston is a city located in Polk County, Iowa, in the United States. It's part of the larger Des Moines area. In 2020, about 24,064 people lived here. This was a big jump from the 8,649 people who lived in Johnston in 2000!
Johnston is home to some important places. You can find the main offices for Pioneer Hi-Bred Seeds and Iowa Public Television here. It also has Camp Dodge Military Reservation and a special house called the Paul J. and Ida Trier House, which was designed by the famous architect Frank Lloyd Wright. The local weather office for the National Weather Service is also in Johnston.
Contents
History of Johnston
Johnston started in 1905 as a train station. It was on the Des Moines & Central Iowa Railway line, which connected Des Moines and Perry. The station was named Johnston Station after John F. Johnston, who managed freight for the railway.
Train service for passengers stopped in 1949. The train tracks within the city have since been removed.
Becoming a City
People in Johnston voted to become an official city on June 23, 1969. The first Mayor and City Council members were sworn into office on September 8 of that year. Johnston officially became a city on December 11, 1969.
At first, the original Johnston Station area couldn't join the new city. This was because of a state law that said a town couldn't become part of a city if it was too close to another city. Nearby cities like Des Moines and Urbandale were also interested in that land. However, in April 1970, Johnston and Urbandale made an agreement. This allowed Johnston to add the Johnston Station area to its city limits.
Geography and Nature
Johnston covers about 18.37 square miles (47.58 square kilometers). Most of this area is land, but about 1.21 square miles (3.13 square kilometers) is water.
The Des Moines River forms the eastern border of the city. Part of the Saylorville Reservoir, a large lake, is also within Johnston's area. To the south, the city is next to Interstate 80, a major highway.
A creek called Beaver Creek flows through Johnston. It runs south until it gets close to Interstate 80. Then, it turns east and flows into the Des Moines River.
Population and People
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1970 | 222 | — | |
| 1980 | 2,526 | 1,037.8% | |
| 1990 | 4,702 | 86.1% | |
| 2000 | 8,649 | 83.9% | |
| 2010 | 17,278 | 99.8% | |
| 2020 | 24,064 | 39.3% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
The population of Johnston has grown a lot over the years. In 1970, only 222 people lived here. By 2020, the population had grown to 24,064 people!
Johnston's Population in 2020
In 2020, there were 24,064 people living in Johnston. The city had 9,194 households, which are groups of people living together.
Most people in Johnston are White (81.7%). There are also Black or African American (5.9%), Asian (6.3%), and Native American (0.2%) residents. About 1.3% of people were from other races, and 4.7% were from two or more races. About 3.9% of the population was Hispanic or Latino.
The average age in Johnston in 2020 was 37 years old. About 29.8% of the residents were under 20 years old. About 13.8% were 65 years old or older. The city's population was almost evenly split between males (48.4%) and females (51.6%).
Economy and Jobs
Johnston is home to the main offices of two important companies: Corteva Agriscience and John Deere Financial. These companies provide many jobs in the area.
Education in Johnston
Students in Johnston attend schools that are part of the Johnston Community School District.
Getting Around Johnston
Public transportation in Johnston is provided by Des Moines Area Regional Transit. Bus routes 5 and 93 connect the city to other parts of the region, making it easier for people to travel.
See also
In Spanish: Johnston (Iowa) para niños
