survey shows Des Moines is losing people? (Cedar Rapids, Clive: credit rating, condo)

[southwest1230]

What gives? I thought Des Moines was resurging and growing? This new
survey shows it as a shrinking city, with a loss of 2.5% population last 6 years.
Are they wrong or is it true?

City Mayors: Fastest growing US cities 2007

Well, is it dying or growing?

[El Rhino]

Most of the growth is out in the suburbs, so maybe it doesn't account for that.

[Steve_W]

The metro has a 6 or 7% growth rate. Positive that is and well above the national average. The city may have lost some residents but I wouldn't want to live in the city either. I would like to live in West DM or Clive, however.

[southwest1230]

Originally Posted by El Rhino

Most of the growth is out in the suburbs, so maybe it doesn't account for that.

Generally healthy metro areas grow in city and burbs....not many are suburb growth exclusive. Also, much growth in suburbs of declining cities are just people moving out of the city, like Detroit or Chicago. Anyone know the net
Des Moines metro growth?

[Steve_W]

Very true, an inner city which cannot expand and grow with population is usually considered unhealthy. Usually the first thing to go is the cities credit rating and the rest of the finances follow. Des Moines made the same mistake St. Louis and Detroit made. Their annexation policies were counterproductive for the cities well being. (I think the state dictated the annexation policy). I don't think Des Moines is really having the same problems though and I think its doing quite well.

[pepe1]

Originally Posted by southwest1230

Generally healthy metro areas grow in city and burbs....not many are suburb growth exclusive. Also, much growth in suburbs of declining cities are just people moving out of the city, like Detroit or Chicago. Anyone know the net
Des Moines metro growth?

???

I think you menat to say the opposite of what you have stated.

Almost ALL large cities lose population while their suburbs grow.

[Steve_W]

I don't think Omaha has ever had a negative population loss but it's also not surrounded by suburbs thanks to Nebraska annexation laws.

[SharpHawkeye]

This is from the Des Moines Register's story on the last Census estimate. For a pretty good discussion of various Iowa cities' growth in general--this thread from absoluteDSM is pretty interesting.

absoluteDSM.com :: View topic - 2006 Iowa Cities Population Estimates

For the record, I disagree with your notion that cities with any loss of population are "unhealthy". From the list you linked to, I see that Minneapolis lost 2.6%, comparable to Des Moines. Would you consider Minneapolis an unhealthy city?

[Luke9686]

I think they should concentrate growth efforts in areas other than downtown DSM. It is great what they have done, but a $300K+ condo in Des Moines?? Come on, it ain't Chicago or S.F. They should concentrate revamping some of the beautiful areas like Drake, Ingersoll and others. They have done some stuff with the Drake area, but I think it can be better.

[mfrerkes]

Des Moines...losing people? Impossible! It's all propaganda put forth by the pro-Omaha and pro-Cedar Rapids people on this forum. Des Moines is set to surpass Tokyo as the world's largest city by 2030. Why hasn't Des Moines hosted the Olympics, yet?