Ankeny sits just north of Des Moines along Interstate 35, and for decades it was known primarily as a commuter suburb — a place where people slept but didn't necessarily work. That narrative is over. Today, Ankeny is a regional business center and one of the fastest-growing cities in the Midwest, with a 2026 population reaching 80,809. Growing at roughly 2.6% annually, the city has added over 12,000 residents since the 2020 census. With a median household income of $108,198, Ankeny isn't just a bedroom community — it is an economic engine in its own right, consistently adding high-paying jobs and new infrastructure. The Baker Group's recent expansion added 100 high-paying engineering and construction management jobs to the city. New data center approvals signal that Ankeny is positioning itself as part of the Silicon Prairie corridor that stretches from Des Moines through the northern suburbs. Major employers like John Deere Financial and Casey's General Stores have long anchored the local economy, but the diversification into tech, logistics, and advanced manufacturing is what defines Ankeny's current chapter. The Prairie Trail development has given Ankeny something it never had before — a walkable downtown. Mixed-use buildings, restaurants, boutiques, and a town square that hosts farmers markets and community events have created a center of gravity for a city that used to be defined entirely by its proximity to Des Moines. Ankeny isn't just growing. It's becoming a destination. With the Ankeny Regional Airport expansion underway and continued residential development pushing the population well past 80,000, the city that was once "30 minutes north of Des Moines" is increasingly being described as the northern anchor of a metro area that is redefining what the Midwest can be.