Des Moines Register
06-21-06
Census shows Iowans gather near large cities
Population losses occur in places far from interstate highways, new figures from
2005 indicate.
By JANE NORMAN
REGISTER WASHINGTON BUREAU
The cities in Iowa seeing the most robust population growth are in the Des
Moines area and the Iowa City-Cedar Rapids corridor, new census estimates
released today show.
The new numbers continue a trend of geographic rearrangement in Iowa during
the past few decades, with smaller towns — especially those far from interstate
highways — losing population while those close to urban areas swell.
Older cities with large working-class populations also are failing to gain, or are
seeing population unchanged, the estimates say. Waterloo and Sioux City both
saw losses.
North Liberty, though, leaped in population from 5,377 to 8,808, the census
estimates, for a 63 percent increase in population since 2000.
The town is close to Coralville — which is in the midst of rapid westward
expansion — and Iowa City, as well as Interstate Highway 80. "Tons and tons of
new houses and apartments" is how Dave Swenson, a scientist in the
department of economics at Iowa State University who studies Iowa
demographics, described North Liberty in recent months.
In contrast, he said that 605 of Iowa's 950 cities saw declines in the new
estimates. He went through the names of cities registering declines with a note of
sadness in his voice — Logan, Mapleton, Laurens, Sac City.
"Most of these, historically, were small area trade centers and farming
communities," Swenson said. It's not just the death rate among elderly residents
responsible for losses but also the departure of younger people, he said.
"That whole idea of out-migration from Iowa, that is what is going on in these
rural places," said Swenson. "What they are lightest on is people age 20 to 34."
Being close to an urban area in Iowa makes a difference. "Ankeny, West Des
Moines – these are those nodes around the metro core that are continuing to add
population," he said. That includes places as small as Bondurant, which grew
from 1,846 to 2,203, the estimates say.
Newton, which suffered a huge economic blow earlier this year with the
announced shutdown of Maytag, had a population virtually the same in 2000
(15,602) as in 2005 (15,607).
But Swenson said he believes Newton and the surrounding area are resilient,
with other manufacturing plants offering jobs and residents able to commute to
either Pella or Des Moines.
The state has attempted repeatedly to lure back residents who have left for other
states. Iowa Gov. Tom Vilsack in early May visited Atlanta for an event in which
ex-Iowans were invited to an evening reception at a trendy restaurant and urged
to come home.
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported that the governor emphasized shorter
commutes, family-friendly towns and low housing costs.
But in a graphic demonstration of out-migration, the article in the newspaper was
written by ... a native of Iowa and 1992 graduate of Iowa State University, Scott
Leith.