Ankeny, Iowa Real Estate

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Moving to Ankeny, IA?

Located just 6 miles north of Des Moines, Iowa, Ankeny is at once a suburb of Des Moines and it's own distinct community. Perfect for commuters who are looking for an easy drive to Des Moines but want to live life in a smaller city, Ankeny offers a tight knit community and a great variety of amenities, shops and housing options.

Ankeny, IA has been growing rapidly for the past 5 years, with projections to exceed 55,000 by 2020. Here's a grow chart:

The median income for Ankeny housholds in 2000 was $55,162, and the largest employer in town was the Ankeny Community school district. While a large percentage of Ankeny residents commute into Des Moines or it's other suburbs for work, Ankeny boasts many large employers of it's own. Casey's General Stores, Des Moines Area Community College, John Deere, Monsanto, Mrs. Clark's Foods and Tone's Spices all have a major presence in the city.

While many residents commute for work, there's no need to leave Ankeny for shopping or dining out. Ankeny offers stores like Home Depot, Super Target, Kohls, Menards, Super Walmart, Pier One and many more. Karl Chevorlet, one of the largest Chevy dealers in the country, is located in Ankeny. And with over 60 restaurants to choose from, including Chili's and Panera Bread, you'll never go hungry.

Recreation is a part of life in Ankeny, and with 18 parks totaling 290 acres it's easy to get outside and enjoy the great Iowa weather (it really is great most of the time!)

Ankeny also offers 2 18-hole golf courses (public), a disc golf course, tennis courts, swimming pools, an all-weather track, family aquatic center, bike trails, a YMCA and more.

Saylorville Lake, a 5400-acre lake perfect for waterskiing, fishing, camping or tubing, is located just 2 miles west of Ankeny. Big Creek Lake, just north of Ankeny provides another 866 acres of outdoor fun. Big Creek boasts a great playground, a sandy beach for summer fun and boat rentals.

The Ankeny Community School District, the 10th largest in Iowa, prides itself on providing Ankeny students with a great education, as well as great extracurricular opportunities. Total PreK-12 enrollment in 2002 was 6,213.

Des Moines Area Community College (DMACC) is also located in Ankeny. With 7,146 students enrolled at the Ankeny campus in 2002, DMACC is the largest community college in Iowa (and larger than many private universities as well).