# Grimes, Iowa

Grimes is a city in Polk and Dallas counties in the U.S. state of Iowa. The population was 15,392 at the time of the 2020 Census. Grimes is part of the Des Moines-West Des Moines metropolitan area.

## History

Grimes incorporated as a city on May 7, 1894. It is named after James W. Grimes, a former U.S. senator and the third governor of Iowa.

## Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 11.87 square miles (30.74 km$^2$), of which 11.84 square miles (30.67 km$^2$) is land and 0.03 square miles (0.08 km$^2$) is water.

### Climate

Climate data for Grimes, Iowa :
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °F (°C) | 67 (19) | 69 (21) | 90 (32) | 93 (34) | 99 (37) | 102 (39) | 105 (41) | 106 (41) | 99 (37) | 94 (34) | 83 (28) | 70 (21) | 106 (41) |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 31 (−1) | 36 (2) | 48 (9) | 62 (17) | 73 (23) | 82 (28) | 87 (31) | 85 (29) | 77 (25) | 64 (18) | 48 (9) | 34 (1) | 61 (16) |
| Daily mean °F (°C) | 21 (−6) | 26 (−3) | 37 (3) | 50 (10) | 62 (17) | 71 (22) | 76 (24) | 73 (23) | 65 (18) | 52 (11) | 38 (3) | 25 (−4) | 50 (10) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 11 (−12) | 15 (−9) | 26 (−3) | 38 (3) | 50 (10) | 60 (16) | 64 (18) | 61 (16) | 52 (11) | 39 (4) | 28 (−2) | 15 (−9) | 38 (4) |
| Record low °F (°C) | −28 (−33) | −34 (−37) | −23 (−31) | 8 (−13) | 26 (−3) | 40 (4) | 43 (6) | 35 (2) | 22 (−6) | 12 (−11) | −9 (−23) | −25 (−32) | −34 (−37) |
| Average precipitation inches (mm) | 0.9 (23) | 1.0 (25) | 2.2 (56) | 3.7 (94) | 4.9 (120) | 5.1 (130) | 5.1 (130) | 4.4 (110) | 3.1 (79) | 2.5 (64) | 2.0 (51) | 1.2 (30) | 36.1 (912) |
| Source: weather.com ||||||||||||||

## Demographics
### 2020 census

As of the census of 2020, there were 15,392 people, 5,708 households, and 4,086 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,300.8 inhabitants per square mile (502.3/km$^2$). There were 6,062 housing units at an average density of 512.3 per square mile (197.8/km$^2$). The racial makeup of the city was 88.1% White, 2.9% Black or African American, 0.3% Native American, 2.4% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 1.5% from other races and 4.8% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino persons of any race comprised 4.4% of the population.
Of the 5,708 households, 43.3% of which had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.4% were married couples living together, 6.9% were cohabitating couples, 22.5% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present and 14.1% had a male householder with no spouse or partner present. 28.4% of all households were non-families. 22.5% of all households were made up of individuals, 6.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years old or older.
The median age in the city was 33.6 years. 32.4% of the residents were under the age of 20; 5.1% were between the ages of 20 and 24; 32.3% were from 25 and 44; 21.4% were from 45 and 64; and 8.8% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 48.4% male and 51.6% female.

### 2010 census

As of the census of 2010, there were 8,246 people, 3,115 households, and 2,222 families living in the city. The population density was 696.5 inhabitants per square mile (268.9/km$^2$). There were 3,272 housing units at an average density of 276.4 per square mile (106.7/km$^2$). The racial makeup of the city was 95.0% White, 1.1% African American, 0.2% Native American, 1.7% Asian, 0.8% from other races, and 1.3% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.5% of the population.
There were 3,115 households, of which 44.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.7% were married couples living together, 9.2% had a female householder with no husband present, 3.4% had a male householder with no wife present, and 28.7% were non-families. 21.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 4.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.65 and the average family size was 3.15.
The median age in the city was 31.1 years. 31.2% of residents were under the age of 18; 6% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 36.7% were from 25 to 44; 20.4% were from 45 to 64; and 5.7% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 49.3% male and 50.7% female.

### 2000 census

As of the census of 2000, there were 5,098 people, 1,887 households, and 1,437 families living in the city. The population density was 569.4 inhabitants per square mile (219.8/km$^2$). There were 1,958 housing units at an average density of 218.7 per square mile (84.4/km$^2$). The racial makeup of the city was 97.19% White, 0.33% African American, 0.22% Native American, 0.88% Asian, 0.27% from other races, and 1.10% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.08% of the population. 2005 population estimate was 6,175 (Des Moines Register, July 12, 2006).
There were 1,887 households, out of which 47.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.7% were married couples living together, 11.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 23.8% were non-families. 19.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 5.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.70 and the average family size was 3.13.
32.7% are under the age of 18, 7.1% from 18 to 24, 39.2% from 25 to 44, 15.6% from 45 to 64, and 5.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 31 years. For every 100 females, there were 94.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.1 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $56,275, and the median income for a family was $60,847. Males had a median income of $40,118 versus $31,588 for females. The per capita income for the city was $23,712. About 2.4% of families and 3.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 2.7% of those under age 18 and 7.7% of those age 65 or over.

## Economy

Japanese animation distributor and online retailer The Right Stuf International was headquartered in Grimes. The company occupied a 76,000-square-foot (7,100 m$^2$) office and distribution center.

## Parks and recreation

Grimes has several parks. The main park is Water Works Park, which also has a splash pad for kids to play in during the summer. Parks in Grimes include: The South Sports Complex, The North Sports Complex, Autumn Park, Beaverbrooke Park, Shawver Park, North Pointe Park, Glenstone Park, Kennybrook South Park, Heritage Park, and Lions Park.

## Government

Grimes' city council meets the second and fourth Tuesday of the month. The mayor is Scott Mikkelsen.

## Education

Grimes, along with Dallas Center, forms the Dallas Center–Grimes Community School District system which draws students from both Polk and Dallas County. The high school (grades 9-12) and The DC-G Administration Building form a campus located inside Grimes, a middle school (grades 5-6) in Dallas Center, and Oak View (Grades 7-8) in Grimes. The district also has 4 elementary schools, South Prairie Elementary (Grades OK-4), North Ridge Elementary (Grades K-4), and Heritage Elementary (Grades K-4), which are all in Grimes, along with Dallas Center Elementary (Grades K-4), which resides in Dallas Center. The school mascot is the Mustangs and the colors are red and white.
Portions of the community of Grimes are also served by the Johnston Community School District. Primarily, areas within the Johnston district, but within the official Grimes city limits are those areas on the east side of Iowa Highway 141.

## Transportation

In Grimes, there are many different ways to get around the city. This includes the US, state, and county highways of both Dallas and Polk county, Iowa. In Grimes, Iowa 141 passes through the central half of the city. Iowa 44 passes along the well known 1st Street.
Transit in the city is provided by Des Moines Area Regional Transit. Buses on Route 93 provide express service from downtown Des Moines to Grimes.

## Notable people

* Brandon Fricke, soccer player
* Paige Lowary, retired softball pitcher
* Brett Moffitt, NASCAR driver
* Inez Scott Ryberg, academic and archeologist
* Tony Watson, MLB pitcher