Johnston has the results of its special census but city officials think the count fell short.
That does not necessarily mean there will be a recount. But Johnston officials are looking for ways to verify the data with the U.S. Census Bureau.
Johnston was one of the Des Moines metro cities that in 2025 had a special census to collect new funding for things such as road repairs to keep up with growing populations.
The cities, also including Altoona and Grimes, faced delays in the process first because of President Donald Trump’s hiring freeze of the federal government’s civilian workforce and then last fall’s federal government shutdown. New numbers for Altoona or Grimes have not been released.
The U.S. Census Bureau on March 4 certified its special census result for Johnston, finding the city had 24,897 people as of Aug. 19, according to Johnston City Council documents. That is 833 more residents than the population counted in the 2020 U.S. Census.
That seemed off to city officials.
“Our internal estimates based on building permit issuance is between 25,500 and 26,000,” Assistant City Administrator David Wilwerding told the Des Moines Register. The city thinks 1,900 more residents is more accurate.
What’s at stake is thousands of dollars. Johnston officials told the Register in 2025 they hoped an updated population count would bring in $1.6 million of additional federal funding through 2030. That road use tax money is based on the number of people living in a city.
The Des Moines metro remained the fastest-growing major metro in the Midwest, according to new U.S. Census Bureau estimates released in March.
Phillip Sitter covers the suburbs for the Des Moines Register. Phillip can be reached via email at PSitter@usatodayco.com. Find out more about him online in the Register’s staff directory.
This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Johnston officials expect city grew more than special census result
Reporting by Phillip Sitter, Des Moines Register / Des Moines Register
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