Clive

History

Clive was platted in 1882 but did not incorporate as a city until August 18, 1956. While the exact origin of the city's name is unknown, it is believed to have been named after Robert Clive. In its early days, Clive was a coal mining town and a railroad shipping point along the St. Louis – Des Moines Northern Railway. The railroad depot, which dates back from 1882, has been restored while the neighboring Swanson House, dating back from 1911, serves as the headquarters for the Clive Historical Society. After incorporation in 1956, Clive has served as a mostly residential suburb of Des Moines, and the city has grown in both land area and population since that time. Most of Clive's businesses are along 86th Street, Hickman Road (which forms most of the boundary with Urbandale), and University Avenue (which forms the boundary with West Des Moines). Clive has been part of the West Des Moines School District since 1962; the portion of Clive that is in Dallas County is part of the Waukee School District.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has an area of , of which is land and is water.

Race & ethnicity

Most-observed species

• Northern Cardinal

  Cardinalis cardinalis (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  9,928
• American Robin

  Turdus migratorius Linnaeus, 1766 · Aves
  9,768
• Blue Jay

  Cyanocitta cristata (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  8,268
• Black-capped Chickadee

  Poecile atricapillus (Linnaeus, 1766) · Aves
  8,000
• Downy Woodpecker

  Dryobates pubescens (Linnaeus, 1766) · Aves
  7,636
• Canada Goose (canadensis Group)

  Branta canadensis (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  7,622
• Red-bellied Woodpecker

  Melanerpes carolinus (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  6,975
• White-breasted Nuthatch

  Sitta carolinensis Latham, 1790 · Aves
  6,676

Most recent

• M 2.5 — 2025-06-25
  10 km WNW of Marysville, Iowa
• M 3 — 2025-06-25
  5 km S of Knoxville, Iowa
• M 3.3 — 2025-06-25
  8 km SE of Knoxville, Iowa