U.S. Census estimates show more than two-thirds of Iowa counties have lost population since 2010 but that counties near urban areas saw big growth.
The Census data released Thursday estimate 71 of Iowa’s 99 counties lost residents and 28 counties gained population.
The largest percentage growth was 21.2-percent in Dallas County, in suburban Des Moines. That was followed by 10.2% in Johnson County and 8.6% in Polk County.
The largest population growth was in Polk, where the Des Moines-based county added 37,076 people.