Known as the City of Literature, Iowa City is part of the Iowa City metropolitan area, which includes all of Washington and Johnson counties. At one time, Iowa City was the second capital for the Iowa Territory and the first capital of Iowa state.
Interesting Facts About Iowa City
Iowa City has been named as the 10th best U.S. city for singles by Kiplinger, the #10 top "Smart Place to Live" by Kiplinger, and the third-best small metro area in the country by Forbes.
The city has a thriving arts and culture atmosphere, leading Utne Reader to name it as one of the Most Enlightened Towns in America. The Advocate, meanwhile, listed Iowa City as the third "Gayest City in America" with many gay-friendly resources. Iowa City has been ranked behind Atlanta, Georgia and Burlington, Vermont.
Iowa City, home to the University of Iowa, is a major college town in the state with a population that booms during the months when school is in session. 58% of the adults in Iowa City have at least a bachelor's degree.
Iowa City Population Growth
Since the 2010 census, about 75% of Iowa's growth has been concentrated in just ten cities, most of them in central Iowa. Iowa City has been one of the fastest-growing cities in Iowa over the last five years due to economic development and a healthy economy.
A new report by the Census Bureau found that Iowa City and Des Moines had the fastest-growing populations among metro areas in the state since the census. During the last four years, the Iowa City metropolitan population climbed 7.7% to 164,000, beating the average growth for urban areas across the country, which grew at an average rate of 3.9% between 2010 and 2014.