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Ankeny Iowa |
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Ankeny Iowa Community Information
Ankeny Real Estate, Ankeny IA Homes for Saleand Neighborhood Guide
Brought to you by Carolin Gibson, Realtor®
Serving Ankeny 50021 and surrounding areas including Des Moines and Central Iowa
As your Ankeny Real Estate agent, it is my priviledge to provide you with all the information you need to make a wise home buying or home selling decision. Whether you want to find homes for sale in Ankeny, find out the value of a home or other property in Ankeny, or merely need local information, you can find it all right here. Use the following links to learn more about the wonderful community of Ankeny, Iowa.
Ankeny, Iowa is located nine miles north of downtown Des Moines - just to the east of Interstate 35 and to the west of Saylorville Reservoir. The US Census Bureau 2006 estimated population for Ankeny was 38,726, an increase of 42.8% since 2000
In recent years Ankeny has become a major suburban community with a character all it's own. One of Ankeny's chief attractions is it's proximity to the recreational attributes of Saylorville Lake and to the Interstate Highway system. Major shopping areas are developing along Delaware Avenue, parallel to and close by I-35. The Ankeny Regional Airport, the third busiest in Iowa, is undergoing major improvements.
Ankeny's I-35 location is also attracting many new businesses to the industrial/commercial area located along I-35 near the regional airport. One of John Deere Company's largest manufacturing plants is also located on the southwest side of Ankeny on part of the historic Des Moines Ordinance Plant grounds.
Ankeny also hosts the main campus of Iowa's largest community college, the Des Moines Area Community College (DMACC). The Faith Baptist Bible College is also located in Ankeny. Other area educational institutions such as Drake University, Des Moines University, Grandview College, AIB and Hamilton College are within easy driving distance of Ankeny. The Ankeny Community School District is one of Iowa's top rated public schools.
Ankeny Iowa History (courtesy of www.ci.ankeny.ia.us)
Ankeny began as a farming community founded by John Fletcher Ankeny on April 22, 1875. Mr Ankeny was an active Des Moines businessman (Doctor) and involved in area politics in the years prior to his namesake town's founding. He was also a promoter and stockholder of the Minnesota Narrow Gauge Railroad which was later built through the town of Ankeny.
Ankeny was incorporated as a town on February 28, 1903, with a total incorporated area of one square mile.
In 1940, the Federal Government established an ordnance plant for the manufacture of ammunition on the site that is now occupied by the Iowa State University Research Farm and the John Deere Company. Due to the establishment of this plant, Ankenys population growth experienced a rapid increase that continued after the plant was purchased by the John Deere Company in October of 1947. Production of corn pickers began in the Deere plant in February of 1948 with 570 employees. Production later included harvesting equipment for corn, cotton, sugar beets and potatoes, along with grain dryers and self-propelled crop sprayers.
Since World War II Ankeny has developed from a small town into a major area suburb.
Ankeny Iowa Real Estate
Ankeny now offers the full range of housing opportunities. Old Ankeny offers quaint starter homes and post WWII ranch and two-story houses. More recent residential developments are offered both north and south of downtown Ankeny including recently developed townhome and condo areas. West of Ankeny, nearer Saylorville Reservoir, there are many scenic housing areas and luxury home developments. (Saylorville is a Corp of Engineers reservoir, thus, waterfront development is not allowed.)
Ankeny Iowa Links
More Information about Ankeny and other Des Moines Metro Communities
including city government website, location maps, school & shopping information
Contact Carolin Gibson about relocating to Ankeny, Iowa
