Urbandale, Iowa
17 topographic sheets cover this place, the earliest surveyed in 1905 and the latest in 1984. It stands in Webster Township. It lies in ZIP code area 50322. The Survey maps it on the Des Moines NW quadrangle. 45,580 people lived here at the 2020 count. It stands 945 feet above sea level.
On record in Urbandale
Buildings and businesses the archive holds for this place. Each opens its own page, with the source record it came from.
On the National Register 1 record
Farmhouse, Olmsted Familylisted 2019
Population over time
2 figuresUrbandale grew from 39,463 to 45,580 between 2010 and 2020. These are the recorded population figures Wikidata holds for this place, reached through the Geographic Names Information System number this page is keyed on rather than by name, so they belong to this place and not to another of the same name. Most are census counts, but not all are: an early figure may be a founding or settlement estimate, and an estimate published within five years of a census is left out. The change column is computed, and is left blank where more than 20 years separate a figure from the one before it, because a gap that long is not a change between two counts.
| Year | People | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 39,463 | |
| 2020 | 45,580 | +6,117 (+16%) |
Topographic sheets covering this place
9 surveys from 17 printed sheetsMatched by testing this settlement's coordinate against the published boundary of every sheet in the United States Geological Survey's historical collection. Each opens the scanned sheet at the Survey.
- 1905 USGS Des Moines quadrangle1:62500
- 1907 USGS Des Moines quadrangle1:62500, 3 printings
- 1954 USGS Des Moines quadrangle1:250000, 2 printings
- 1956 USGS Des Moines quadrangle1:250000
- 1956 USGS Des Moines quadrangle1:62500
- 1956 USGS Des Moines NW quadrangle1:24000, 5 printings
- 1957 USGS Des Moines quadrangle1:250000
- 1969 USGS Des Moines quadrangle1:250000
- 1984 USGS Des Moines quadrangle1:100000, 2 printings
Fires near this place
12 since 2006Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The federal wildfire occurrence database lists 12 fires within 5 miles of Urbandale between 2006 and 2019, burning about 56 acres in total. None started naturally. None was recorded as arson. Distance is straight-line from the map coordinates, so a fire counted here may appear on a neighbouring settlement's page as well.
| Reported cause | Fires |
|---|---|
| Missing data/not specified/undetermined | 8 |
| Equipment and vehicle use | 4 |
The most recent of them, most recent first, with the day each was reported and the service that recorded it.
| Date | Cause | Size | Reported by | Name on the report |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 June 2018 | Equipment and vehicle use | 1.0 acres | Iowa Department of Natural Resources | not named |
| 2 June 2018 | Equipment and vehicle use | 1.0 acres | Iowa Department of Natural Resources | not named |
| 17 May 2014 | Equipment and vehicle use | under an acre | Iowa Department of Natural Resources | not named |
| 6 April 2011 | Missing data/not specified/undetermined | 15 acres | Iowa Department of Natural Resources | 47753 127TH, IA |
| 4 April 2015 | Missing data/not specified/undetermined | under an acre | Iowa Department of Natural Resources | not named |
| 4 April 2009 | Missing data/not specified/undetermined | 6.0 acres | Iowa Department of Natural Resources | not named |
| 10 April 2018 | Missing data/not specified/undetermined | 3.0 acres | Iowa Department of Natural Resources | not named |
| 30 March 2019 | Equipment and vehicle use | 3.0 acres | Iowa Department of Natural Resources | not named |
Settlements close enough to share some of these fires:
Mines and quarries near this place
10 of 11 shownRegional context, not property-specific evidence. The federal mineral resources record lists 11 workings within 5 miles of Urbandale: 6 past producers, 5 producers. 5 still produce. What was taken out: Sand and Gravel, Construction, Stone, Crushed/Broken, Clay, Zinc. Distance is straight-line from the map coordinates, so a quarry counted here may appear on a neighbouring settlement's page as well.
| Where | Site | Commodity | Status | Recorded |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Drill Hole | Zinc | Past Producer | Sphalerite | |
| Can-Tex Industries West Pit | Clay | Producer | ||
| Iowa Clay Pipe Co. Pit | Clay | Past Producer | ||
| Marquette Cement Plant | Stone, Crushed/Broken | Past Producer | ||
| Penn-Dixie Cement Plant | Stone, Crushed/Broken | Producer | ||
| West Des Moines Plant #8 | Stone, Crushed/Broken | Producer | ||
| Des Moines North Pit & Plant | Sand and Gravel, Construction | Producer | ||
| Johnston Pit & Plant | Sand and Gravel, Construction | Producer | ||
| Morning Star Pit | Sand and Gravel, Construction | Past Producer | ||
| Unknown | Sand and Gravel, Construction | Past Producer |
Storms near this place
60 of 107 shownRegional context, not property-specific evidence. The National Weather Service names Urbandale in 107 storm reports between 1994 and 2025: 43 thunderstorm wind, 32 hail, 19 heavy rain, 8 flash flood. No death or injury is recorded in these reports. Each account below is quoted exactly as the forecast office filed it, from the NOAA Storm Events Database, and each date opens the federal record of that event.
| When | Event | Place named | Harm | What the report says |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| June 1998 | Thunderstorm Wind | Urbandale | $2,000,000 | no account filed |
| June 1998 | Thunderstorm Wind | Urbandale | $500,000 | no account filed |
| June 2018 | Flash Flood | Urbandale | $300,000 | A home was flooded by Rocklyn Creek which caused a divider wall in the duplex to fail and collapse. Two residents were stuck in side and swam to safety through a downstairs window. The remaining residents were evacuated. Soon after the home exploded due to a gas leak when the wall collapsed. The explosion damaged a few nearby homes as well. |
| June 2018 | Flash Flood | Urbandale | $250,000 | Public reported heavy rainfall of 2.68 inches measured at 8:47 pm. Multiple cars were also stalled on Meredith Ave with an estimated 8 inches of water rush down 67th St to Meredith. |
| May 2017 | Thunderstorm Wind | Urbandale | $100,000 | Emergency manager stated dozens of reports of power lines down, trees down, power outages from transformer damage, and motor vehicle crashes all suspected to be storm related. Metro wide reports too numerous to report. |
| June 2010 | Heavy Rain | Urbandale | $100,000 | Standing water 6 inches deep just south of Douglas and Merle Hay, couple inches of flowing water at 63rd and Hickman, 1-2 feet of standing water at Washington and 68th. |
| August 2002 | Thunderstorm Wind | Urbandale | $100,000 | no account filed |
| May 2024 | Thunderstorm Wind | Urbandale | $75,000 | Public reported tree down on house. Estimated 2 feet in diameter. Time estimated from radar. |
| June 2001 | Hail | Urbandale | $75,000 | no account filed |
| August 2016 | Thunderstorm Wind | Urbandale | $50,000 | Mid American Energy reported powerlines down in Urbandale, via social media. Time estimated from radar. |
| September 2013 | Thunderstorm Wind | Urbandale | $50,000 | Minor damage to the roof of a business at the corner of Urbandale Ave and Merle Hay Road. |
| September 2013 | Thunderstorm Wind | Urbandale | $50,000 | Partial roof damage to business located at 5900 Douglas Avenue. |
| August 2010 | Flash Flood | Urbandale | $50,000 | Several vehicles stalled at the intersection of Northwest Urbandale Drive and Meredith Drive, also at Douglas Ave and Aurora Ave by 1 to 1.5 feet of water flowing through the intersections. |
| August 2010 | Flash Flood | Urbandale | $50,000 | Emergency manager reported tire-deep water flowing down the road at the intersection of 86th and I-80. Power loss and several vehicles stalled. |
| June 2008 | Hail | Urbandale | $50,000 | Law enforcement reported quarter to golf ball size hail at 86th and Douglas in Urbandale, and also at 100th and Swanson in Clive. |
| May 2014 | Hail | Urbandale | $50,000 | no account filed |
| June 1997 | Thunderstorm Wind | Urbandale | $50,000 | no account filed |
| May 2013 | Thunderstorm Wind | Urbandale | $25,000 | Measured wind for 5 minutes. |
| September 2013 | Thunderstorm Wind | Urbandale | $25,000 | Many tree branches down and a few power lines down. |
| June 2011 | Hail | Urbandale | $25,000 | Mainly nickel and quarter hail with a few the size of golf balls at the Urbandale Golf and Country Club. |
| July 2010 | Thunderstorm Wind | Urbandale | $25,000 | Trained spotter estimated wind gust to 70 MPH. |
| June 2008 | Flash Flood | Urbandale | $25,000 | Flash flooding was reported at Hickman and Merle Hay Rd, and on MLK near Douglas and Euclid avenues. The roads were flooded from curb to curb. |
| June 2008 | Flash Flood | Urbandale | $25,000 | Waist high water in the road near 47th and 48th Streets between Hickman and Beaver Crest. Report received from KCCI TV. |
| August 2002 | Thunderstorm Wind | Urbandale | $25,000 | no account filed |
| June 2001 | Hail | Urbandale | $25,000 | no account filed |
| June 2014 | Thunderstorm Wind | Urbandale | $20,000 | Medium size tree limb damage reported. |
| July 2008 | Flood | Urbandale | $20,000 | One foot of water was covering the road near 86th and Meredith. |
| August 2007 | Lightning | Urbandale | $20,000 | no account filed |
| September 2013 | Thunderstorm Wind | Urbandale | $15,000 | Winds estimated at 60 MPH. |
| July 2015 | Lightning | Urbandale | $10,000 | Westcom dispatch reported fire due to lightning strike along 86th st. |
| June 2008 | Flash Flood | Urbandale | $10,000 | Two and one half feet of water in the intersection of 63rd and Hickman Road. |
| July 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | Urbandale | $10,000 | Tree damage reported as well. |
| June 2014 | Thunderstorm Wind | Urbandale | $10,000 | no account filed |
| May 2008 | Lightning | Urbandale | $10,000 | no account filed |
| June 2007 | Hail | Urbandale | $10,000 | no account filed |
| June 2001 | Hail | Urbandale | $10,000 | no account filed |
| June 1999 | Lightning | Urbandale | $8,000 | no account filed |
| May 2014 | Thunderstorm Wind | Urbandale | $5,000 | Wind gusts estimated at 60 to 70 MPH. |
| August 2012 | Thunderstorm Wind | Urbandale | $5,000 | Four inch diameter tree limbs down in the neighborhood around his residence. |
| June 2008 | Flash Flood | Urbandale | $5,000 | Water flowing over Douglas near Merle Hay Road. |
| August 2012 | Hail | Urbandale | $5,000 | no account filed |
| March 2007 | Hail | Urbandale | $5,000 | no account filed |
| April 2006 | Thunderstorm Wind | Urbandale | $5,000 | no account filed |
| June 2005 | Hail | Urbandale | $5,000 | no account filed |
| April 2003 | Hail | Urbandale | $5,000 | no account filed |
| June 2000 | Thunderstorm Wind | Urbandale | $5,000 | no account filed |
| June 1998 | Thunderstorm Wind | Urbandale | $5,000 | no account filed |
| June 1998 | Thunderstorm Wind | Urbandale | $5,000 | no account filed |
| April 1994 | Hail | Urbandale | $5,000 | no account filed |
| August 2014 | Thunderstorm Wind | Urbandale | $3,000 | Limbs were blown off of trees. |
| August 2009 | Thunderstorm Wind | Urbandale | $3,000 | Minor tree limb damage. |
| June 2018 | Thunderstorm Wind | Urbandale | $2,000 | Public reported a 7 inch diameter tree branch down at 67th and Meredith. |
| September 2013 | Thunderstorm Wind | Urbandale | $2,000 | Two to three inch diameter limb driven through a car windshield near Douglas and 68th St. |
| March 2011 | Hail | Urbandale | $2,000 | Located at 67th and Douglas Ave. |
| July 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | Urbandale | $2,000 | Four inch diameter trees down. |
| March 2011 | Hail | Urbandale | $2,000 | no account filed |
| June 2008 | Hail | Urbandale | $2,000 | no account filed |
| April 2006 | Thunderstorm Wind | Urbandale | $2,000 | no account filed |
| July 2006 | Thunderstorm Wind | Urbandale | $2,000 | no account filed |
| July 2006 | Thunderstorm Wind | Urbandale | $2,000 | no account filed |
Nearest settlements
The eight closest, with where each one stands in the county. Distances are straight-line, computed from the Geographic Names Information System coordinates.
| Map | Place | Distance | Sheets |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crestwood | 1.4 miles | 16 | |
| Clive | 1.7 miles | 16 | |
| Lovington | 1.9 miles | 17 | |
| Windsor Heights | 2.0 miles | 16 | |
| Rider (historical) | 3.3 miles | 11 | |
| Johnston | 3.3 miles | 17 | |
| West Des Moines | 3.4 miles | 16 | |
| Valley Junction | 4.0 miles | 16 |
Elsewhere
Matched on this settlement's Geographic Names Information System number rather than its name, so it cannot be a different place of the same name in another state.
| Wikipedia article on Urbandale | An encyclopaedic summary. Its text is share-alike, so it is linked here rather than copied. |
| Wikidata item Q985556 | The structured record the population and elevation above come from. Public domain (CC0). |
Provenance
This settlement is recorded in the Geographic Names Information System as feature 462504. The sheet list is computed by point-in-boundary test against the United States Geological Survey's historical topographic inventory. Both are works of the United States government and carry no copyright under 17 U.S.C. 105.
Wildfire. Short, Karen C. 2022. Spatial wildfire occurrence data for the United States, 1992-2020 [FPA_FOD_20221014]. 6th Edition. Fort Collins, CO: Forest Service Research Data Archive. https://doi.org/10.2737/RDS-2013-0009.6 Collected with United States Government funding and usable without additional permissions or fees.
Mines and quarries. USGS Mineral Resources Data System (MRDS) https://mrdata.usgs.gov/mrds/ A work of the United States government, no copyright under 17 U.S.C. 105.
Storms. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/stormevents/ A work of the United States government, no copyright under 17 U.S.C. 105. Narratives are quoted verbatim from the National Weather Service report and are not edited or summarised.








