Johnston, Iowa, United States

🇺🇸 Johnston is a city in Polk County, Iowa, United States. It is part of the Des Moines–West Des Moines Metropolitan Statistical Area. Johnston is the location of the headquarters of Pioneer Hi-Bred Seeds, Iowa Public Television, and The Gardeners of America/Men's Garden Clubs of America. Also located here are the Camp Dodge Military Reservation as well as the Paul J. and Ida Trier House, a private residence designed by famous architect Frank Lloyd Wright, and the Des Moines Weather Forecast Office of the National Weather Service.

History Johnston was established in 1905 as a station on the Des Moines & Central Iowa Railway between Des Moines and Perry known as Johnston Station. It was named for the railway's freight supervisor, John F. Johnston. Passenger service along the railroad ended in 1949, and the track has subsequently been removed within city limits.

Voters passed a resolution to incorporate on June 23, 1969. On September 8, the first Mayor and Council were sworn in. Incorporation papers were signed by the Clerk of the District Court on December 11, 1969.

At the time, the Johnston Station area did not become part of the incorporated city because of a state law that prevented a town within three miles (5 km) of another city from incorporating. The neighboring cities of Des Moines and Urbandale were also interested in that land, but in April 1970, Johnston and Urbandale reached an agreement that allowed Johnston to annex the Johnston Station area.

Geography According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 18.37 square miles (47.58 km²), of which 17.16 square miles (44.44 km²) is land and 1.21 square miles (3.13 km²) is water.

The city is bordered on the east by the Des Moines River and the city's area includes part of Saylorville Reservoir. On the south, the city is bordered by Interstate 80 and to the west, the city limits extend to a half mile east of Iowa Highway 141. The city is bisected by Beaver Creek, which flows southerly through the city until it nearly reaches Interstate 80, at which point the course turn easterly and flows to the Des Moines River.

Demographics At the 2010 census there were 17,278 people, 6,369 households, and 4,720 families living in the city. The population density was 1,006.9 inhabitants per square mile (388.8/km²). There were 6,618 housing units at an average density of 385.7 per square mile (148.9/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 91.0% White, 2.2% African American, 0.1% Native American, 4.6% Asian, 0.6% from other races, and 1.5% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.0%.

Of the 6,369 households 42.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 64.4% were married couples living together, 6.8% had a female householder with no husband present, 2.9% had a male householder with no wife present, and 25.9% were non-families. 20.7% of households were one person and 6.9% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.67 and the average family size was 3.14.

The median age was 36.9 years. 29.9% of residents were under the age of 18; 5.8% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 28.7% were from 25 to 44; 25.6% were from 45 to 64; and 9.9% were 65 or older. The gender makeup of the city was 49.0% male and 51.0% female.

Economy Corteva Agriscience and John Deere Financial are based in Johnston.

Education The Johnston Community School District serves the city.

Transport Transit in the city is provided by Des Moines Area Regional Transit. Routes 5 and 93 provide bus service connecting the city to the region.