Des Moines, Iowa Des Moines, Iowa City of Des Moines Skyline, Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden, Kruidenier Trail bridge, and the Iowa State Capitol, 801 Grand (Principal Financial Group) Skyline, Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden, Kruidenier Trail bridge, and the Iowa State Capitol, 801 Grand (Principal Financial Group) Flag of Des Moines, Iowa Flag Official logo of Des Moines, Iowa Des Moines, Iowa is positioned in the US Des Moines, Iowa - Des Moines, Iowa Des Moines Listeni/d m n/ is the capital and the most crowded city in the U.S.

A small part of the town/city extends into Warren County. It was incorporated on September 22, 1851, as Fort Des Moines, which was shortened to "Des Moines" in 1857. It is on and titled after the Des Moines River, which likely was adapted from the French colonial name, Riviere des Moines, meaning "River of the Monks." Des Moines is a primary center of the U.S.

Forbes periodical ranked Des Moines as the "Best Place for Business" in both 2010 and 2013. In 2014, NBC ranked Des Moines as the "Wealthiest City in America," as stated to its criteria. Des Moines is an meaningful city in U.S.

3.1 Origin of Fort Des Moines Des Moines takes its name from Fort Des Moines (1843 46), which was titled for the Des Moines River.

One prominent interpretation of "Des Moines" ignores Vogel's research, and concludes that "Des Moines" refers to a group of French Trappist monks, who in the 17th century lived in huts assembled on top of what is now known as the ancient Monks Mound at Cahokia, the primary center of Mississippian culture, which advanced in what is present-day Illinois, east of the Mississippi River and the current town/city of St.

Based on archeological evidence, the juncture of the Des Moines and Raccoon rivers has thriving humans for at least 7,000 years.

Several prehistoric occupation areas have been identified by archeologists in downtown Des Moines.

Discovered in December 2010, the "Palace" is an expansive 7,000-year-old site found amid excavations before to assembly of the new wastewater treatment plant in southeastern Des Moines.

At least three Late Prehistoric villages, dating from about AD 1300 to 1700, stood in or near what advanced later as downtown Des Moines.

Timeline of Des Moines, Iowa Des Moines traces its origins to May 1843, when Captain James Allen supervised the assembly of a fort on the site where the Des Moines and Raccoon rivers merge.

War Department preferred Fort Des Moines.

"It is a fact that the locale of Fort Des Moines among the Sac and Fox Indians (under its present commander) for the last two years, had corrupted them more and lowered them deeper in the scale of vice and degradation, than all their intercourse with the caucasians for the ten years previous". Parkway and First Street. Soldiers stationed at Fort Des Moines opened the first coal mines in the area, quarrying coal from the riverbank for the fort's blacksmith. On May 25, 1846, the state council designated Fort Des Moines as the seat of Polk County.

Arozina Perkins, a school teacher who spent the winter of 1850 1851 in the town of Fort Des Moines, was not favorably impressed: This town is at the juncture of the Des Moines and Raccoon rivers.

"The Des Moines and Raccoon rivers rose to an unprecedented height, inundating the entire nation east of the Des Moines river.

On September 22, 1851, Des Moines was incorporated as a city; the charter was allowed by voters on October 18.

In 1857, the name "Fort Des Moines" was shortened to "Des Moines," and it was designated as the second state capital, previously at Iowa City.

By 1893, there were 23 mines in the region. By 1908, Des Moines' coal resources were largely exhausted. In 1912, Des Moines still had eight locals of the United Mine Workers union, representing 1,410 miners. This was about 1.7 percent of the city's populace in 1910.

By 1880, Des Moines had a populace of 22,408, making it Iowa's biggest city.

Des Moines has remained Iowa's most crowded city.

In 1910, the Enumeration Bureau reported Des Moines' populace as 97.3% white and 2.7% black, reflecting its early settlement pattern primarily by ethnic Europeans. At the turn of the 20th century, Des Moines undertook a "City Beautiful" universal in which large Beaux Arts enhance buildings and fountains were constructed along the Des Moines River.

The former Des Moines Public Library building (now the home of the World Food Prize); the United States central Post Office, assembled by the federal government (now the Polk County Administrative Building, with a newer addition); and the City Hall are surviving examples of the 1900 1910 buildings.

The ornate riverfront balustrades that line the Des Moines and Raccoon River were assembled by the federal Civilian Conservation Corps in the mid-1930s, amid the Great Depression under Democratic President Franklin D.

In 1907, the town/city adopted a town/city commission government known as the Des Moines Plan, comprising an propel mayor and four commissioners, all propel at-large, who were responsible for enhance works, enhance property, enhance safety, and finance.

During the Great Flood of 1993, heavy rains throughout June and early July caused the Des Moines and Raccoon rivers to rise above flood-stage levels.

The Des Moines Water Works was submerged by flood waters amid the early morning hours of July 11, 1993, leaving an estimated 250,000 citizens without running water for 12 days and without drinking water for 20 days.

Des Moines suffered primary flooding again in June 2008 with a primary levee breach. The Des Moines river is controlled upstream by Saylorville Reservoir.

Through ICLEI, Des Moines has implemented "The Tomorrow Plan," a county-wide plan concentrated on developing central Iowa in a sustainable fashion, centrally planning expansion and resource consumption to manage the small-town population.

The horizon of Des Moines changed amid the 1970s and 1980s as a several new high-rise buildings were built.

They were later joined by the 33-story Des Moines Marriott Hotel (1981), the 25-story HUB Tower and 25-story Plaza Building (1985).

During this time period, the Civic Center of Greater Des Moines (1979) was developed; it hosts Broadway shows and special affairs.

Also constructed were the Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden (1979), a large town/city botanical garden/greenhouse on the east side of the river; the Polk County Convention Complex (1985), and the State of Iowa Historical Museum (1987).

The new central branch of the Des Moines Public Library, designed by famous architect David Chipperfield of London, opened on April 8, 2006.

The World Food Prize Foundation, which is based in Des Moines, instead of adaptation and restoration of the former Des Moines Public Library building in October 2011.

This trend is highlighted by the success of the East Village precinct of shops, studios, and housing between the Capitol precinct and the Des Moines River.

Astronaut photography of Des Moines Iowa taken from the International Space Station (ISS) According to the United States Enumeration Bureau, the town/city has a total region of 90.65 square miles (234.78 km2), of which, 88.93 square miles (230.33 km2) is territory and 1.73 square miles (4.48 km2) is water. It is 850 feet above sea level at the confluence of the Raccoon and Des Moines rivers.

In November 2005, Des Moines voters allowed a measure that allowed the town/city to annex certain parcels of territory in the northeast, southeast, and southern corners of Des Moines without agreement by small-town residents, especially areas bordering the Iowa Highway 5/U.S.

The Des Moines-West Des Moines Metropolitan Travel Destination consists of five central Iowa counties: Polk, Dallas, Warren, Madison.

The region had a 2000 census populace of 481,394 and an estimated 2009 populace of 562,906. The Des Moines-Newton-Pella Combined Travel Destination consists of those four counties plus Jasper and Marion counties; the 2000 census populace of this region was 550,659, and the estimated 2009 populace was 631,805. Des Moines' suburban communities include Altoona, Ankeny, Bondurant, Carlisle, Clive, Grimes, Johnston, Norwalk, Pleasant Hill, Urbandale, Waukee, West Des Moines, and Windsor Heights.

Located at the center of North America and far removed from large bodies of water, the Des Moines region has a hot summer type humid continental climate (Koppen Dfa), with hot, humid summers and cold, snowy winters.

Climate data for Des Moines International Airport, Iowa (1981 2010 normals, extremes 1878 present) Many insurance companies are headquartered in Des Moines, including the Principal Financial Group, EMC Insurance Group, Fidelity & Guaranty Life, Allied Insurance, Guide - One Insurance, Wellmark Blue Cross Blue Shield of Iowa, and American Republic Insurance Company.

Des Moines has been referred to as the "Hartford of the West" because of this. The Principal is one of two Fortune 500 companies with command posts in Iowa, ranking 273rd on the magazine's list in 2009. As a center of financial and insurance services, other primary corporations headquartered outside of Iowa have established a existence in the Des Moines Metro area, including Wells Fargo, Voya Financial, and Electronic Data Systems.

Other primary employers in Des Moines include Unity - Point Health, Mercy Medical Center, Mid - American Energy Company, CDS Global, UPS, Firestone Agricultural Tire Company, EDS, Drake University, Titan Tire, The Des Moines Register, Anderson Erickson, Dee Zee and EMCO. In 2010, Forbes periodical ranked the Des Moines urbane region first on its list of "Best Places For Business And Careers", based on factors such as the cost of doing business, cost of living, educational attainment, and crime rate. The Civic Center of Greater Des Moines The City of Des Moines is a cultural center for Iowa and home to a several art and history exhibitions and performing arts groups.

The Des Moines Performing Arts routinely hosts Broadway shows and other live experienced theater.

The Temple for Performing Arts and Des Moines Playhouse are other venues for live theatre, comedy, and performance arts.

The Des Moines Metro Opera has been a respected cultural resource in Des Moines since 1973.

Des Moines Art Center Wells Fargo Arena is the Des Moines area's major venue for sporting affairs and concerts since its opening in 2005.

The Simon Estes Riverfront Amphitheater is an outside concert venue positioned on the east bank of the Des Moines River which hosts music affairs such as the Alive Concert Series.

The Des Moines Art Center, with a wing designed by architect I.

The Pappajohn Sculpture Park in the Downtown's Western Gateway Park plays host to the Des Moines Arts Festival.

Dedicated September 27, 2009, the Pappajohn Sculpture Park positioned in Western Gateway Park from 10th to 15th Streets and between Grand Avenue and Locust Street, showcases a compilation of 24 world-class sculptures valued at more than $40 million donated by Des Moines philanthropists John and Mary Pappajohn.

Salisbury House and Gardens is a 42-room historic home exhibition positioned on 10 acres (4 ha) of woodlands in the South of Grand neighborhood of Des Moines.

Built in 1877 by prominent pioneer businessman Hoyt Sherman, Hoyt Sherman Place mansion was Des Moines' first enhance art loggia and homes a distinct ive compilation of 19th and 20th century artwork.

The State of Iowa Historical Museum is positioned near the state capitol in Des Moines' East Village.

It overlooks downtown Des Moines and is situated on 8 acres (3.2 ha) with a re-created Victorian formal garden.

The East Village, positioned on the east side of the Des Moines River, begins at the river and extends about five blocks east to the State Capitol Building, offering an eclectic blend of historic buildings, hip eateries, boutiques, art arcades, and a wide range of other retail establishments different with residences.

Adventureland Park is an amusement park in neighboring Altoona, just northeast of Des Moines.

Historic Jordan House in West Des Moines is a stately Victorian home assembled in 1850 and added to in 1870 by the first white settler in West Des Moines, James C.

Completely refurbished, this mansion was once part of the Underground Railroad and today homes 16 reconstructionrooms, a barns exhibition, West Des Moines improve history, and a exhibition dedicated to the Underground Railroad in Iowa.

The 4th Street Neighborhood is positioned inside the Court Avenue Entertainment District of Downtown Des Moines.

Des Moines plays host to a burgeoning number of nationally acclaimed cultural affairs, including the annual Des Moines Arts Festival in June, Metro Arts Jazz in July, Iowa State Fair in August, and the World Food & Music Festival in September. On Saturdays from May through October, the prominent Downtown Farmers' Market draws visitors from athwart the state and is ranked the second best market in the country.

Other annual celebrations and affairs include: Des Moines Beer Week, 80/35 Music Festival, 515 Alive Music Festival, Art - Fest Midwest, Blue Ribbon Bacon Fest, Celebr - Asian Heritage Festival, Des Moines Pride Festival, Des Moines Renaissance Faire, Festa Italiana, Festival of Trees and Lights, World Food & Music Festival, I'll Make Me a World Iowa, Latino Heritage Festival, Oktoberfest, Wine - Fest, Imagin - Eve!, Iowa's Premier Beer, Wine & Food Show, and Wild Rose Film Festival.

Des Moines Art Center Des Moines Police Museum & Historical Society Fort Des Moines Museum and Education Center Des Moines Municipal Building Des Moines has an extensive skywalk fitness inside its downtown core.

Skywalks connecting buildings over 8th Street in the Downtown Core of Des Moines Interstate 235 (I-235) cuts through the city, and I-35 and I-80 both pass through the Des Moines urbane area, as well as the town/city of Des Moines.

On the northern side of the town/city of Des Moines and passing through the metros/cities of Altoona, Clive, Johnston, Urbandale and West Des Moines, I-35 and I-80 converge into a long concurrency while I-235 takes a direct route through Des Moines, Windsor Heights, and West Des Moines before meeting up with I-35 and I-80 on the edge of the metro.

The remainder of traffic congestion in the region occurs near the East and West Mixmasters on either side of Des Moines.

Due to increasing budget constraints, the town/city of Des Moines implemented a speeding camera program along I-235 to gain revenue through the most densely populated parts of Greater Des Moines.

US 6, US 69, Iowa 28, Iowa 141, Iowa 163, Iowa 330, and Iowa 415 are also meaningful routes to and inside the city.

A new Des Moines Skywalk Entrance There have been proposals to convert Iowa 5 and US 65, the "South Belt Freeway," into what would be retitled Interstate 335, giving the Des Moines Metropolitan Area an interstate running from the northeast suburb of Altoona to the southeastern suburb of Carlisle and then connect with I-35 in the southern part of West Des Moines. Des Moines's enhance transit system, directed by DART (Des Moines Area Regional Transit), which was the Des Moines Metropolitan Transit Authority until October 2006, consists entirely of buses, including regular in-city routes and express and commuter buses to outlying suburban areas.

The nearest Amtrak train station is in Osceola, about 40 miles (64 km) south of Des Moines.

The Des Moines International Airport (DSM), positioned on Fleur Drive in the southern part of Des Moines, offers nonstop service to destinations inside the United States.

The Des Moines Public Schools precinct is the biggest improve school precinct in Iowa with 32,062 enrolled students as of the 2012 2013 school year.

The precinct consists of 63 schools: 38 elementary schools, eleven middle schools, five high schools (East, Hoover, Lincoln, North, and Roosevelt), and ten special schools and programs. Small parts of the town/city are instead served by Carlisle Community Schools, Johnston Community School District, the Southeast Polk Community School District and the Saydel School District Grand View Christian School is the only private school in the city, although Des Moines Christian School (located in Des Moines from 1947 to 2006) in Urbandale, Iowa Christian Academy and Dowling Catholic High School in West Des Moines, and Ankeny Christian Academy on the north side of the metro region serve some town/city residents.

Des Moines is also home to the chief campuses of three four-year private colleges: Drake University, Grand View University, and Mercy College of Health Sciences.

Des Moines Area Community College is the area's improve college with campuses in Ankeny, Des Moines, and West Des Moines.

Other establishments of higher learning in Des Moines include AIB College of Business and Des Moines University, an osteopathic medical school.

Media in Des Moines, Iowa The Des Moines market, which originally consisted of Polk, Dallas, Story, and Warren counties, was ranked 91st by Arbitron as of the fall of 2007 with a populace of 512,000 aged 12 and older. But in June 2011 it was moved up to 72nd with the addition of Boone, Clarke, Greene, Guthrie, Jasper, Lucas, Madison and Marion counties. Most of Des Moines' commercial airways broadcasts are owned by one of four companies.

In addition to WHO, i - Heart - Media owns KDRB 100.3 FM (adult hits), KKDM 107.5 FM (contemporary hits), KDXA 106.3 FM (alternative rock), and KXNO 1460 am (sports radio). (They also own news/talk station KASI 1430 am and hot adult intact station KCYZ 105.1 FM, both of which broadcast from Ames.) Cumulus Media owns five stations that broadcast from facilities in Urbandale: KBGG 1700 am (sports), KGGO 94.9 FM (classic rock), KHKI 97.3 FM (country music), KJJY 92.5 FM (country music), and KWQW 98.3 FM (classic hip hop). Saga Communications owns seven stations in the area: KAZR 103.3 FM (rock), KIOA 93.3 FM (oldies), KIOA-HD2 99.9 - FM & 93.3 HD2 (Rhythmic Top 40), KMYR 104.1 FM (soft adult contemporary), KPSZ 940 am (contemporary Christian music), KRNT 1350 am (ESPN Radio), and KSTZ 102.5 FM (adult intact hits). Other stations in the Des Moines region include theological stations KNWI 107.1 FM, KWKY 1150 am, and KPUL 101.7 FM. Non-commercial airways broadcasts in the Des Moines region include KDPS 88.1 FM, a station directed by the Des Moines Public Schools; KWDM 88.7 FM, a station directed by Valley High School; KJMC 89.3 FM, an urban intact station; and KDFR 91.3 FM, directed by Family Radio.

Iowa Public Radio broadcasts a several stations in the Des Moines area, all of which are owned by Iowa State University and directed on campus.

The network also operates classical stations KICG, KICJ, KICL and KICP. Low-power FM stations include Drake University's KDRA-LP, on the 94.1 recurrence, and KFMG-LP 99.1, a improve airways broadcast transmitting from the Hotel Fort Des Moines and also webstreamed. Commercial tv stations serving Des Moines include KCCI channel 8, a CBS affiliate; WHO-TV channel 13, an NBC affiliate; KDSM-TV channel 17, a Fox affiliate; ABC partner WOI-TV channel 5 broadcasts from studios in West Des Moines; KDMI channel 19, a TCT partner broadcasts from Des Moines, Iowa.

Mediacom is the Des Moines area's cable tv provider.

The Des Moines Register is the city's major daily newspaper.

As of March 31, 2007, the Register ranked 71st in circulation among daily newspapers in the United States as stated to the Audit Bureau of Circulations with 146,050 daily and 233,229 Sunday subscribers. Weekly newspapers include Juice, a printed announcement aimed at the 25 34 demographic presented by the Register on Wednesdays; Cityview, an alternative weekly presented on Thursdays; and the Des Moines Business Record, a company journal presented on Sundays, along with the West Des Moines Register, the Johnston Register, and the Waukee Register on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, or Thursdays depending on the address of the subscriber.

Des Moines hosts experienced minor league squads in a several sports baseball, basketball, hockey, indoor football, and soccer and is home to the sports squads of Drake University which play in NCAA Division I.

Des Moines is home to the Iowa Cubs baseball team of the Pacific Coast League.

The I-Cubs, which are the Class AAA team of the primary league Chicago Cubs, play their home games at Principal Park near the confluence of the Des Moines and Raccoon Rivers.

Wells Fargo Arena of the Iowa Events Center is home to the Iowa Wild of the American Hockey League, the Iowa Energy of the NBA Development League, and the Iowa Barnstormers of the Indoor Football League.

The Wild, the AHL partner of the National Hockey League's Minnesota Wild have played at Wells Fargo Arena since 2013; previously, the Iowa Chops played four seasons in Des Moines (known as the Iowa Stars for three of those seasons.) The Barnstormers relaunched as an af2 club in 2008 before joining a relaunched Arena Football League in 2010 and the Indoor Football League in 2015; the Barnstormers had previously played in the Arena Football League from 1994 to 2000 (featuring future NFL Hall of Famer and Super Bowl MVP quarterback Kurt Warner) before relocating to New York.

The Des Moines Buccaneers of the United States Hockey League play at Buccaneer Arena in Urbandale, and the Des Moines Menace soccer team play at Valley Stadium in West Des Moines.

Des Moines is home to the Bulldogs of Drake University, an NCAA Division I member of the Missouri Valley Conference, primarily playing northwest of downtown at the on-campus Drake Stadium and Knapp Center.

The IMT Des Moines Marathon is held throughout the town/city each October.

Des Moines Buccaneers United States Hockey League Buccaneer Arena 1980 Des Moines Menace USL Premier Development League Valley Stadium 1994 Des Moines has 76 town/city parks and three golf courses, as well as three family aquatic centers, five improve centers and three swimming pools.

The Principal Riverwalk is a riverwalk park precinct currently being constructed along the banks of the Des Moines River in the downtown.

From downtown Des Moines primarily along the east bank of the Des Moines River, the Neil Smith and John Pat Dorrian Trails are 28.2-mile (45.4 km) paved recreational trails that connect Gray's Lake northward to the east shore of Saylorville Lake, Big Creek State Park, and the recreational trails of Ankeny including the High Trestle Trail. These trails are near a several recreational facilities including the Pete Crivaro Park, Principal Park, the Principal Riverwalk, the Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden, Union Park and its Heritage Carousel of Des Moines, Birdland Park and the Birdland Marina/Boatramp on the Des Moines River, Riverview Park, Mc - Henry Park, and River Drive Park. Although outside of Des Moines, Jester Park has 1,834 acres (742 ha) of territory along the shore of Saylorville Lake and can be reached from the Neil Smith Trail over the Saylorville Dam.

Just west of Gray's Lake are the 1,500 acres (607 ha) of the Des Moines Water Works Park.

The Water Works Park is positioned along the banks of the Raccoon River immediately upstream from where the Raccoon River empties into the Des Moines River.

The Des Moines Water Works Facility, which obtains the city's drinking water from the Raccoon River, is positioned entirely inside the Water Works Park.

The Water Works Park recreational trails link to downtown Des Moines by travelling past Gray's Lake and back athwart the Raccoon River via either along the Meredith Trail near Principal Park, or along the Martin Luther King Jr.

Also originating from Water Works Park, the Great Western Trail is an 18-mile (29 km) journey southward from Des Moines to Martensdale through the Willow Creek Golf Course, Orilla, and Cumming.

The Greater Des Moines Sister City Commission, with members from the City of Des Moines and the suburbs of West Des Moines, Windsor Heights, Johnston, and Ankeny, maintains sister town/city relationships with five world communities: Kosovo - Kosovo 2013 (Kosovo also opened Consulate in downtown Des Moines in 2015) List of diplomatic missions of Kosovo List of citizens from Des Moines, Iowa Official records for Des Moines kept August 1878 to August 1939 at downtown and at Des Moines Int'l since September 1939.

Des Moines was nicknamed the Hartford of the West because like Hartford, Conn., it is an insurance center.

City of Des Moines City Manager's Office.

City of Des Moines.

"City of Des Moines Action Center: City History".

"Facebook to build data Center near Des Moines, Iowa".

"Des Moines, where regular folks can live rich life", Today show, NBC, 2014 Vogel, Virgil (1983) Iowa Place Names of Indian Origin University of Iowa Press, Iowa City.

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Mather, David and Ginalie Swaim (2005) "The Heart of the Best Part: Fort Des Moines No.

Perkins, Arozina, 1851 letter in: (1984) "Teaching in Fort Des Moines, Iowa: November 13, 1850 to March 21, 1851." Mills and Company (1866) Des Moines City Directory and Business Guide.

Des Moines, Iowa: Mills and Company, p.

Brigham, Johnson (1911) Des Moines: The Pioneer of Municipal Progress and Reform of the Middle West.

(1978) Des Moines: Capital City: A Pictorial and Entertaining Commentary on the Growth and Development of Des Moines, Iowa.

Gardiner, Allen (2004) Des Moines: A History in Pictures.

Greater Des Moines Convention and Visitors Bureau.

City of Des Moines.

"Station Name: IA DES MOINES INTL AP".

"Des Moines (city), Iowa".

"Large Non-Government Employers, Greater Des Moines Region" (PDF).

City of Des Moines, Iowa.

Greater Des Moines Partnership.

Jordan House | Haunted Places | West Des Moines, Iowa.

"Des Moines names new enhance works director".

"New Des Moines police chief allowed 7-0".

Des Moines Public Schools.

"Des Moines Parks and Recreation".

City of Des Moines Park and Recreation website.

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Des Moines Historical Society Des Moines, Iowa at DMOZ City Data Comprehensive Statistical Data and more about Des Moines, Iowa Des Moines Featured on NPR's State of the Re:Union Articles relating to Des Moines, Iowa

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Des Moines, Iowa - 1843 establishments in Iowa Territory - Cities in Iowa - Cities in Polk County, Iowa - County seats in Iowa - Des Moines urbane region - Populated places established in 1843 - Populated places on the Underground Railr