Johnston is a city in Polk County, Iowa, United States. The population was 24,064 in the 2020 census, a large increase from the 8,649 population in 2000. It is part of the Des Moines–West Des Moines Metropolitan Statistical Area.
Johnston is the location of the headquarters of Pioneer Hi-Bred Seeds, Iowa Public Television, and The Gardeners of America/Men's Garden Clubs of America. Also located here are the Camp Dodge Military Reservation as well as the Paul J. and Ida Trier House, a private residence designed by architect Frank Lloyd Wright, and the Des Moines Weather Forecast Office of the National Weather Service.
History
Johnston was established in 1905 as a station on the Des Moines & Central Iowa Railway between Des Moines and Perry known as Johnston Station. It was named for the railway's freight supervisor, John F. Johnston. Passenger service along the railroad ended in 1949, and the track has subsequently been removed within city limits.
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , of which is land and is water.
The city is bordered on the east by the Des Moines River and the city's area includes part of Saylorville Reservoir. On the south, the city is bordered by Interstate 80 and to the west, the city limits extend to a half mile east of Iowa Highway 141. The city is bisected by Beaver Creek, which flows southerly through the city until it nearly reaches Interstate 80, at which point the course turn easterly and flows to the Des Moines River.