  altoona is a city in polk county, iowa, united states and is a part of the des moinesâwest des moines metropolitan statistical area. the population was 14,541 at the 2010 census; a special census taken in august 2005 counted 13,301 residents.{{cite web|author=city of altoona|title=council minutes, december 19, 2005|url=http://www.altoona-iowa.com/filecab/2005-12-19%20council%20minutes.pdf|format=pdf|year=2005|accessdate=2006-05-17 |archiveurl = http://web.archive.org/web/20060319143849/http://www.altoona-iowa.com/filecab/2005-12-19+council+minutes.pdf |archivedate 
Cities_in_Iowa Cities_in_Polk_County,_Iowa Des_Moines_metropolitan_area Populated_places_established_in_1876