By A.J. Harrison
Central Iowa remains a magnet for population growth, as the Des Moines metropolitan area is the fastest growing in the state. The metro saw a net gain of over 10,000 people over a 15-month period from April 2010 to July 2011.
Dallas County helped spur the metro’s growth as it is the 7th fastest growing county in the entire nation.
One of the reasons why Dallas County’s population has exploded is Waukee. Local hardware store owner Geoff Warmouth recounts Waukee’s growth in the past 15 years.

Like many people in Waukee, Warmouth came to the city expecting a population boom.

City Administrator Jeff Kooistra says the future is bright for the city.

Kooistra adds that while the rough economic times have halted construction in many other Iowa communities, construction in Waukee is going strong.

One of the big construction projects for the city is the Alice’s Road development. Kooistra believes construction on the Alice’s Road I-80 interchange will kick off next spring, and hopes it will bring more businesses to the city.