Windsor Heights incorporated as a city on July 19, 1941. It was named for nearby Windsor Elementary School in Des Moines; the school was named for early settler Henry Clay Windsor, whose family donated land for the school. In 1958 Windsor Heights annexed the neighboring community of Crestwood, which added roughly 1,300 people to the city and established the city's present boundaries. Although Windsor Heights is primarily a residential community, some "big-box" retailers have opened stores here, including Wal-Mart, Sam's Club, and Hy-Vee. On June 26, 2008, the United States Postal Service gave Windsor Heights its own ZIP code of 50324 that was scheduled to take effect on July 1, 2009. Before that, the city shared ZIP codes with neighboring portions of Des Moines and Urbandale. Windsor Heights speed cameras issued 73,219 tickets over 2017 and 2018, and generate over $1.5 million in fines annually. The city installed two permanent speed cameras within a six-block stretch on University Avenue. Those cameras cover four lanes of traffic and issued tickets to drivers going at least 11 mph over the 25 mph speed limit. On June 21, 2019 the speed limit was increased to 30 mph and on December 2, 2019, the City Council voted to terminate the speed camera program, which resulted in their removal in April of 2020.
Geography
Windsor Heights is located at . According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of, all land. Windsor Heights is surrounded by other cities: Urbandale to the north, Clive to the west, West Des Moines to the south, and Des Moines to the east. Interstate 235 runs through the far southern part of the city, U.S. Route 6 forms the boundary with Urbandale, and Iowa Highway 28 the boundary with Des Moines. Windsor Heights is divided into two school districts. Students west of 70th Street attend West Des Moines schools, while students east of 70th Street attend Des Moines schools.
As of the census of 2010, there were 4,860 people, 2,167 households, and 1,287 families living in the city. The population density was. There were 2,289 housing units at an average density of. The racial makeup of the city was 91.1% White, 3.5% African American, 0.1% Native American, 2.4% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 1.2% from other races, and 1.6% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.7% of the population. There were 2,167 households of which 24.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.6% were married couples living together, 8.2% had a female householder with no husband present, 3.6% had a male householder with no wife present, and 40.6% were non-families. 31.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.24 and the average family size was 2.83. The median age in the city was 43 years. 19.9% of residents were under the age of 18; 6.6% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 25.7% were from 25 to 44; 29.5% were from 45 to 64; and 17.9% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 47.6% male and 52.4% female.
2000 census
As of the census of 2000, there were 4,805 people, 2,163 households, and 1,349 families living in the city. The population density was 3,399.3 people per square mile. There were 2,222 housing units at an average density of 1,572.0 per square mile. The racial makeup of the city was 95.07% White, 1.73% Black, 0.08% Native American, 1.25% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 0.58% from other races, and 1.23% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.58% of the population. There were 2,163 households out of which 22.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.5% were married couples living together, 6.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.6% were non-families. 30.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.21 and the average family size was 2.77. 19.6% are under the age of 18, 5.9% from 18 to 24, 28.6% from 25 to 44, 25.4% from 45 to 64, and 20.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females, there were 90.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.2 males. The median income for a household in the city was $55,931, and the median income for a family was $65,536. Males had a median income of $41,218 versus $31,854 for females. The per capita income for the city was $29,966. About 2.6% of families and 5.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.3% of those under age 18 and 3.2% of those age 65 or over.
Education
serves a section of Windsor Heights.
In popular culture
The town's Dairy Queen franchise briefly became famous due to a viral tweet by IowaSenator Chuck Grassley who informed his followers "Windsor Heights Dairy Queen is good place for u kno what." Grassley later informed a reporter his tweet referenced the fact that he enjoyed Dairy Queen ice cream.
