Des Moines, Iowa

Des Moines is the capital and biggest city in the U.S. state of Iowa. It is named after the Des Moines River. The city became official in 1851.

Des Moines is an important place for insurance and money-related jobs. Many large companies have offices there, like the Principal Financial Group and Wellmark Blue Cross Blue Shield. Other big companies such as Wells Fargo, Microsoft, and Facebook also work in the area.

The city is important in U.S. politics. Because it is Iowa's capital, Des Moines holds the first events of the presidential primary cycle. Many people running for president open their offices in Des Moines.

History

Des Moines gets its name from Fort Des Moines, built in 1843. The fort was named after the Des Moines River. French colonists called this river Rivière des Moines, meaning "River of the Monks." One idea is that the name came from Trappist monks who lived near the Monks Mound in Cahokia, Illinois, long ago.

People have lived where Des Moines is now for at least 7,000 years. Archaeologists found an old site called “The Palace” with houses and graves. Early explorers saw Native American mounds, but these are gone now because of city building.

Fort Des Moines was built in May 1843 to watch over the Sauk and Meskwaki peoples who had been moved there. The fort was left in 1846 after these people were moved away again.

Des Moines became a city in 1851 and grew slowly until a railroad arrived in 1866. The city became Iowa’s capital in 1857.

In the early 1900s, Des Moines built beautiful public buildings along the river. During the Great Depression, new riverfront walkways were added. The city changed its government many times over the years.

Des Moines faced big floods in 1993 and 2008. Today, the city works on plans to grow in a way that takes care of the environment and its people.

Geography

Des Moines, Iowa, covers an area of 90.65 square miles, with most of it being land and a small part covered by water. The city sits 850 feet above sea level where the Raccoon and Des Moines Rivers meet.

In 2005, voters in Des Moines allowed the city to add new areas without needing agreement from local residents. These additions became official in 2009, adding both land and new people to the city.

Metropolitan area

Main article: Des Moines metropolitan area

The Des Moines metropolitan area includes six counties in central Iowa: Polk, Dallas, Warren, Madison, Guthrie, and Jasper. Des Moines is the largest city, with West Des Moines and Ankeny also being major cities. As of 2024, the area is home to 779,048 people, making it the 78th largest metropolitan area in the United States.

Cityscape

See also: List of tallest buildings in Iowa

Des Moines saw many new tall buildings from the 1970s through the 1990s. Some of the tallest buildings include the 45-story Principal Financial Group tower at 801 Grand, built in 1991. Other notable structures include the Ruan Center, the Des Moines Marriott Hotel, and the HUB Tower.

The city also developed important places such as the Civic Center of Greater Des Moines for shows and events, the Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden, and the Polk County Convention Complex. A network of skywalks now connects many downtown buildings.

In recent years, new projects like the Science Center of Iowa and the Iowa Events Center have opened. The new central library, designed by architect David Chipperfield, opened in 2006. The World Food Prize Foundation restored the old library building, which now serves as a special museum.

Climate

Des Moines has a humid continental climate, meaning it has warm, humid summers and cold, dry winters. Summer temperatures can reach into the 90s °F, sometimes even 100 °F. Spring and summer often bring thunderstorms. Fall days are usually pleasant with colorful leaves. Winters can be very cold, with temperatures sometimes dropping below 0 °F. The area gets about 36.5 inches of snow each winter and around 36.55 inches of rain yearly. winters in Des Moines are colder than in Chicago but not as cold as in Minneapolis.

Demographics

Des Moines has the largest group of African American people in Iowa.

2020 census

The 2020 United States census counted 214,133 people in Des Moines. The city had many homes and families. Most people were European American, with smaller groups of black or African-American, Asian, and others. Many families lived together, but some homes had just one person.

2010 census

In 2010, Des Moines had 203,433 people. Most people were white, but there were also many African Americans and people from many other backgrounds.

2000 census

In the year 2000, there were 198,682 people in the city. Most people were white, but there were also Black and Asian communities, along with people from many other backgrounds.

Economy

Des Moines is a key city for insurance companies. Big firms like the Principal Financial Group and Fidelity & Guaranty Life have their main offices there. Iowa’s low taxes on insurance make the city popular for these businesses. Because of this, Des Moines is sometimes called the “Insurance Capital.”

Other large companies also have offices in the Des Moines area. These include Wells Fargo and Meredith Corporation, which published magazines like Better Homes and Gardens. The city has hospitals, universities, and many other employers.

Arts and culture

Arts and theater

Des Moines is a cultural center for Iowa with many art and history museums and performance groups. The Des Moines Performing Arts brings Broadway shows and other live theater to the city. Other places like the Temple for Performing Arts and Des Moines Playhouse also host live theater, comedy, and performances.

The Des Moines Metro Opera has been part of the city's culture since 1973. It offers educational programs and is one of the largest performing arts groups in the state. Ballet Des Moines started in 2002 and performs three shows each year while also offering education programs.

The Des Moines Symphony plays at different venues. Besides classical concerts, they also have special New Year’s Eve shows and yearly Yankee Doodle Pops concerts.

Jazz in July is an annual event that started in 1969. It features free jazz shows all around the city during July.

Casey’s Center opened in 2005 and is the main place for sports and concerts in the area. It holds 16,980 people and hosts big national acts for arena concerts. Smaller venues nearby also feature local and regional bands. Casey’s Center is home to the Iowa Wolves, Iowa Wild, and Iowa Barnstormers sports teams.

The Simon Estes Riverfront Amphitheater is an outdoor concert spot on the east bank of the Des Moines River. It hosts music events like the Alive Concert Series.

The Des Moines Art Center, designed by famous architects I.M. Pei and Richard Meier, shows art from the 19th century to today. It also offers educational programs and art classes. The center has a collection of artworks and an urban museum space downtown with several exhibitions each year.

The Pappajohn Sculpture Park opened in 2009. It shows 24 sculptures given to Des Moines by philanthropists John and Mary Pappajohn. Nearby is the Temple for Performing Arts, and next to it is the Central Library, designed by famous architect David Chipperfield.

Salisbury House and Gardens is a historic house museum on 10 acres of woodlands. Built in the 1920s by Carl Weeks and his wife, Edith, it contains original 16th-century English woodwork, rare art, and furniture. The house is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and has been featured on TV shows.

Hoyt Sherman Place, built in 1877, was Des Moines’ first public art gallery. It houses a collection of 19th and 20th-century art and has a beautifully restored theater with excellent sound.

Attractions

The Iowa State Capitol building is a popular sight, with its tall gold-covered dome and four smaller domes. The building includes offices for the governor, the legislature, and old court rooms. Inside, there is a grand staircase, a large mural called “Westward,” a library, and a model of the USS Iowa. Tours are available.

The Capitol grounds have memorials for soldiers from World War II, the Civil War, and the Spanish–American, Korean, and Vietnam Wars. There is also a garden area and a granite map of Iowa showing all 99 counties.

The State of Iowa Historical Museum is near the Capitol and has exhibits about Iowa’s past. It includes wildlife, American Indian and pioneer items, and political and military history. The museum also has a library, a gift shop, and a café.

Terrace Hill is the official home of the governor of Iowa. This beautiful Victorian house was built in 1869 and offers tours from March through December.

The Science Center of Iowa and Blank IMAX Dome Theater has many hands-on learning areas for all ages. It includes three theaters: the Blank IMAX Dome Theater, the John Deere Adventure Theater, and a Star Theater.

The Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden is a large indoor plant garden with thousands of flowers all year. Nearby are the Robert D. Ray Asian Gardens and Pavilion, with a Chinese pavilion, bonsai trees, and sculptures.

Blank Park Zoo is a 22-acre zoo with areas that look like a tropical rain forest, Australia, and Africa. The zoo offers classes, tours, and rental spaces.

The Iowa Primate Learning Sanctuary is a research center with a 230-acre campus for studying bonobos and orangutans.

The East Village is on the east side of the Des Moines River. It has historic buildings, cafes, shops, art galleries, and homes.

Adventureland Park is an amusement park in nearby Altoona, just northeast of Des Moines. It has over 100 rides and shows, including six roller coasters. There is also a hotel and campground nearby. Prairie Meadows Racetrack and Casino is also in Altoona, offering gambling, horse racing, slot machines, and live shows.

Living History Farms is a museum in Urbandale that shows life in Iowa from the 1700s to the 1900s. Visitors can see villages, farms, and towns with people dressed in old clothes showing daily life.

Wallace House was the home of Henry Wallace, an important leader in farming. The house has exhibits about his life and work.

Historic Jordan House in West Des Moines is a Victorian home built in 1850. It was part of the Underground Railroad and today has period rooms, a railroad museum, and history about West Des Moines.

Festivals and events

Des Moines hosts many well-known cultural events, such as the Des Moines Arts Festival in June, Metro Arts Jazz in July, the Iowa State Fair in August, and the World Food & Music Festival in September.

Other yearly events include Des Moines Beer Week, the 80/35 Music Festival, 515 Alive Music Festival, ArtFest Midwest, and Blue Ribbon Bacon Fest.

Museums

• Des Moines Art Center
• Jordan House Museum
• Hoyt Sherman Place
• Salisbury House
• Science Center of Iowa
• State Historical Society of Iowa
• Terrace Hill – Official residence of the governor of Iowa
• Wallace House Museum
• World Food Prize Hall of Laureates

Cuisine

• Tasty Tacos
• B-Bop's

Sports

Des Moines has many sports teams. It has minor league teams for baseball, basketball, hockey, indoor football, and soccer. Drake University’s teams also play there.

The Des Moines Menace soccer team plays at Valley Stadium. The Iowa Cubs baseball team, which is connected to the big league Chicago Cubs, plays at Principal Park.

At Casey's Center, you can watch the Iowa Barnstormers indoor football team, the Iowa Wild hockey team, and the Iowa Wolves basketball team.

The Des Moines Buccaneers hockey team plays at Buccaneer Arena in Urbandale. Drake University’s Bulldogs team plays at Drake Stadium, where the famous Drake Relays happen every April.

Other sports events in Des Moines include the Principal Charity Classic golf tournament and the IMT Des Moines Marathon.

See also: List of Des Moines sports teams

Parks and recreation

Des Moines has many parks and fun places to visit. There are city parks, golf courses, places to play in the water, community centers, and swimming pools. The city also has paths for walking and biking. The first big park was Greenwood Park.

The Principal Riverwalk is a new park area being built along the Des Moines River in downtown Des Moines. When it’s done, it will have a long path and beautiful walkways. It will also include a special skating area for winter.

Gray’s Lake Park has a lake where you can rent boats and go fishing. There is also a long trail around the lake.

From downtown, there are paths that lead to many other parks and fun places nearby. These include Pete Crivaro Park, Principal Park, the Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden, and more. Water Works Park is a big park with trails. It’s also a popular spot for music festivals and bike trips.

Government

See also: List of mayors of Des Moines, Iowa

Des Moines has a council–manager style of government. This means there is a mayor chosen by everyone in the city, along with other leaders who help make decisions. Some of these leaders are chosen by people from different parts of the city.

A plan to combine the governments of Des Moines and Polk County was voted against by people in 2004. Even though this big change didn’t happen, some services and programs from both the city and the county now work together.

Education

The Des Moines Public Schools is the biggest school district in Iowa, with many students. It has many schools, including elementary schools, middle schools, and high schools (East, Hoover, Lincoln, North, and Roosevelt). Some parts of the city are served by other school districts like Carlisle Community Schools, Johnston Community School District, the Southeast Polk Community School District, and the Saydel School District. The only private school in the city is Grand View Christian School.

Des Moines has many colleges, including Drake University, Grand View University, and Mercy College of Health Sciences. The University of Iowa has a small center in the city's Western Gateway Park, and Iowa State University offers classes downtown. Des Moines Area Community College is the local community college with campuses in several places. The city is also home to Des Moines University, a medical school.

Media

Main article: Media in Des Moines, Iowa

Des Moines has many radio and television stations. The radio stations play news, music, and sports. Some well-known stations are WHO 1040 AM, a news and talk station, and KCCI channel 8, which shows CBS programs.

The city is also home to famous music bands like Slipknot and Stone Sour, who started their careers here.

Radio

Commercial stations

Non-commercial stations

Television

Print

Music

Infrastructure

Transportation

Des Moines has a big system of enclosed walkways in its downtown area, covering four miles. Some people think this system makes it harder for street-level businesses, but new efforts are trying to make the walkway entrances easier to see.

Several major highways go through or near Des Moines, including Interstate 235, I-35, and I-80. Public transportation in Des Moines is provided by buses run by DART (Des Moines Area Regional Transit).

Des Moines used to be an important place for trains, but it no longer has direct passenger train service. The nearest Amtrak station is in Osceola, about 40 miles south of Des Moines.

The Des Moines International Airport offers flights to many places within the United States. There have been discussions about adding an international terminal there.

Sister cities

Des Moines has special friendships with cities in other countries. These are called sister cities. The cities are:

• Kōfu, Japan (since 1958)
• Saint-Étienne, France (since 1985)
• Shijiazhuang, China (since 1985)
• Pristina, Kosovo (since 2018)
• Kuala Terengganu, Malaysia (since 1987)