Nickname(s): "Hartford of the West"
Location of Des Moines, Iowa in .
Des Moines, IowaLocation in ,
& Des Moines, IowaDes Moines, Iowa (the US)Des Moines, IowaDes Moines, Iowa (North America)
Coordinates: Country
September 22, 1851Government o Type
90.65 sq mi (213.93 km2) o Land
88.92 sq mi (233.3 km2) o Water
1.73 sq mi (4.48 km2)Elevation
955 ft (291 m)Population () o
203,433 o Estimate (2017)
216,553 o Rank
in Iowa in US o Density
2,533/sq mi (978.0/km2) o
450,070 () o
645,911 ()
() o Summer ()
19-21000 feature ID
0465961Website
Des Moines ( ( )) is the
city in the
of . It is also the
of . A small part of the city extends into . It was incorporated on September 22, 1851, as Fort Des Moines, which was shortened to "Des Moines" in 1857. It is on and named after the , which likely was adapted from the French colonial name, Rivière des Moines, meaning "River of the ". The city's population was 216,553 as of the 2017 population estimate. The five-county
is ranked 89th in terms of population in the
with 634,725 residents according to the 2016 estimate by the .Des Moines is a major center of the U.S. insurance industry, and has a sizable financial services and publishing business base. The city was credited as the "number one spot for U.S. insurance companies" in a
article and named the third-largest "insurance capital" of the world. The city is the headquarters for the , the , Ruan Transportation, EMC Insurance Companies, and . Other major corporations such as , , , , Marsh, , and
have large operations in or near the metropolitan area. In recent years, , , and
have built data-processing and logistical facilities in the Des Moines area.
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" according to its criteria.Des Moines is an important city in U.S. p as the state's capital, it is the site of the first
cycle. Many presidential candidates set up campaign headquarters in Des Moines. A 2007 article in
said, "If you have any desire to witness presidential candidates in the most close-up and intimate of settings, there is arguably no better place to go than Des Moines."
Des Moines takes its name from Fort Des Moines (1843–46), which was named for the . This was adopted from the name given by French colonists. "Des Moines" (pronounced
( ), formerly French pronunciation: ) translates literally to either "from the monks" or "of the monks".
The historian Virgil Vogel claimed that the name was derived from Moingona, the
name for "".Some historians and researchers lacking linguistic or Algonquianist training concluded that Moingona meant "people by the portage" or something similar, a reference to the . This was where the earliest known encounters between the Moingona and European explorers took place.One popular interpretation of "Des Moines" ignores Vogel's research, and concludes that it refers to a group of French , who in the 17th century lived in huts built on top of what is now known as the ancient
at , the major center of , which developed in what is present-day Illinois, east of the Mississippi River and the current city of . This was some 200 miles (320 km) from the Des Moines River.
Map of prehistoric and historic American Indian sites in downtown Des Moines
Based on archeological evidence, the junction of the
has attracted humans for at least 7,000 years. Several prehistoric occupation areas have been identified by archeologists in . Discovered in December 2010, the
is an expansive, 7,000-year-old site found during excavations prior to construction of the new wastewater treatment plant in southeastern Des Moines. It contains well-preserved house deposits and numerous graves. More than 6,000 artifacts were found at this site. State of Iowa archaeologist John Doershuk was assisted by
archaeologists at this dig.At least three Late Prehistoric villages, dating from about AD 1300 to 1700, stood in or near what developed later as downtown Des Moines. In addition, 15 to 18 prehistoric
mounds were observed in this area by early settlers. All have been destroyed during development of the city.
Des Moines traces its origins to May 1843, when Captain
supervised the construction of a fort on the site where the Des Moines and Raccoon Rivers merge. Allen wanted to use the name Fort R however, the
preferred Fort Des Moines. The fort was built to control the
Indians, whom the government had moved to the area from their traditional lands in eastern Iowa. The fort was abandoned in 1846 after the Sauk and Meskwaki were removed from the state and shifted to the Indian Territory.The Sauk and Meskwaki did not fare well in Des Moines. The illegal whiskey trade, combined with the destruction of traditional lifeways, led to severe problems for their society. One newspaper reported:
"It is a fact that the location 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 whites for the ten years previous".After official , the Meskwaki continued to return to Des Moines until around 1857.Archaeological excavations have shown that many fort-related features survived under what is now
Parkway and First Street. Soldiers stationed at Fort Des Moines opened the first coal mines in the area, mining coal from the riverbank for the fort's blacksmith.
Excavation of the prehistoric component of the Bird's Run Site in Des Moines
Flood of Des Moines, 1851
Settlers occupied the abandoned fort and nearby areas. On May 25, 1846, the state legislature designated Fort Des Moines as the seat of Polk County. Arozina Perkins, a school teacher who spent the winter of
in the town of Fort Des Moines, was not favorably impressed:
This is one of the strangest looking "cities" I ever saw... This town is at the juncture of the Des Moines and Raccoon Rivers. It is mostly a level prairie with a few swells or hills around it. We have a court house of "brick" and one church, a plain, framed building belonging to the Methodists. There are two taverns here, one of which has a most important little bell that rings together some fifty boarders. I cannot tell you how many dwellings there are, for I h some are of logs, some of brick, some framed, and some are the remains of the old
houses... The people support two papers and there are several dry goods shops. I have been into but four of them... Society is as varied as the buildings are. There are people from nearly every state, and Dutch, Swedes, etc.
In May 1851, much of the town was destroyed during the . "The Des Moines and Raccoon Rivers rose to an unprecedented height, inundating the entire country east of the Des Moines River. Crops were utterly destroyed, houses and fences swept away." The city started to rebuild from scratch.
On September 22, 1851, Des Moines was in the charter was approved 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 . Growth was slow during the
period, but the city exploded in size and importance after a railroad link was completed in 1866.In 1864, the Des Moines Coal Company was organized to begin the first systematic mining in the region. Its first mine, north of town on the river's west side, was exhausted by 1873. The Black Diamond mine, near the south end of the West Seventh Street Bridge, sank a 150-foot (46 m)
to reach a 5-foot-thick (1.5 m) coal bed. By 1876, this mine employed 150 men and shipped 20 carloads of coal per day. By 1885, numerous mine shafts were within the city limits, and mining began to spread into the surrounding countryside. By 1893, 23 mines were in the region. By 1908, Des Moines' coal resources were largely exhausted. In 1912, Des Moines still had eight locals of the
union, representing 1,410 miners. This was about 1.7% of the city's population in 1910.
By 1880, Des Moines had a population of 22,408, making it Iowa's largest city. It displaced the three Mississippi River ports: Burlington, Dubuque, and Davenport, that had alternated holding the position since the territorial period. Des Moines has remained Iowa's most populous city. In 1910, the Census Bureau reported Des Moines' population as 97.3% white and 2.7% black, reflecting its early settlement pattern primarily by ethnic Europeans.
The Barney Sakulin cabin moved from Washington County memorializes Fort Des Moines.
At the turn of the 20th century, Des Moines undertook a "" project in which large
public buildings and fountains were constructed along the Des Moines River. The former
(now the home of the ); the United States , built by the federal government (now the Polk County Administrative Building, with a newer addition); and the
are surviving examples of the
buildings. They form the .
The ornate riverfront balustrades that line the Des Moines and Raccoon Rivers were built by the federal
in the mid-1930s, during the
under Democratic President , as a project to provide local employment and improve infrastructure. The ornamental fountains that stood along the riverbank were buried in the 1950s, when the city began a postindustrial decline which lasted until the late 1980s. The city has since rebounded, transforming from a blue-collar industrial city to a white-collar professional city.
An aerial view of floodwaters, July 19, 1993
In 1907, the city adopted a
known as the Des Moines Plan, comprising an elected mayor and four commissioners, all elected , who were responsible for public works, public property, public safety, and finance. Considered progressive at the time, it diluted the votes of ethnic and national minorities, who generally could not command the majority to elect a candidate of their choice.
This form of government was scrapped in 1950 in favor of a
government, with the council members elected at-large. In 1967, the city changed its government to elect four of the seven city council members from
or wards, rather than at-large. This enabled broader representation of voters. As with many major urban areas, the city core began losing population to the suburbs in the 1960s (the peak population of 208,982 was recorded in 1960), as highway construction led to new residential construction outside the city. The population was 198,682 in 2000 and grew slightly to 200,538 in 2009. The growth of the outlying suburbs has continued, and the overall metropolitan-area population is over 600,000 today.
During the , 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 during the early morning hours of July 11, 1993, leaving an estimated 250,000 people without running water for 12 days and without drinking water for 20 days. Des Moines suffered major flooding again in June 2008 with a major
breach. The Des Moines river is controlled upstream by . In both 1993 and 2008, the flooding river overtopped the reservoir spillway.
Today, Des Moines is a member of . Through ICLEI, Des Moines has implemented "The Tomorrow Plan", a regional plan focused on developing central Iowa in a sustainable fashion, centrally planning growth and resource consumption to manage the local population.
A 1906 panorama, with the
Aerial view of Des Moines
towers over other downtown skyscrapers
The skyline of Des Moines changed during the 1970s and 1980s, as several new skyscrapers were built. Additional skyscrapers were built in the 1990s, including Iowa's tallest. Before then, the 19-story , from 1924, was the tallest building in the city and the tallest building in Iowa. The 25-story
was completed in 1973 and the 36-story
was completed in 1974. They were later joined by the 33-story
(1981), the 25-story
and 25-story
(1985). Iowa's tallest building, 's 45-story tower at
was built in 1991, and the 19-story
was erected in 1997.
During this time period, the
(1979) it hosts Broadway shows and special events. Also constructed were the
(1979), a large city botanical garden/greenhouse on the ea the
(1985), and the State of Iowa Historical Museum (1987). The Des Moines
also began to take shape during the 1980s. The skywalk system is 4 miles (6.4 km) long and connects many downtown buildings.In the early 21st century, the city has had more major construction in the downtown area. The new
and Blank IMAX Dome Theater and the
opened in 2005. The new central branch of the Des Moines Public Library, designed by renowned architect
of London, opened on April 8, 2006.
Foundation, which is based in Des Moines, completed adaptation and restoration of the
building in October 2011. The former library now serves as the home and headquarters of the Dr. / Hall of Laureates.
In 2002, the Principal Financial Group and the city announced plans for the , which will feature trails, pedestrian bridges across the river, a fountain and skating plaza, and a "civic garden" in front of the City Hall. Multiple existing downtown buildings are being converted from office to
apartments and . This trend is highlighted by the success of the
district of shops, studios, and housing between the Capitol district and the Des Moines River.
Astronaut photography of Des Moines Iowa taken from the International Space Station
Aerial view of Des Moines, 2012
According to the , the city has a total area of 90.65 square miles (234.78 km2), of which 88.93 square miles (230.33 km2) is land and 1.73 square miles (4.48 km2) is
covered by water. It is 850 feet above sea level at the confluence of the Raccoon and Des Moines Rivers.
In November 2005, Des Moines voters approved a measure that allowed the city to annex certain parcels of land in the northeast, southeast, and southern corners of Des Moines without agreement by local residents, particularly areas bordering the / bypass. The annexations became official on June 26, 2009, as 5,174 acres (9.27 square miles) and around 868 new residents were added to the city of Des Moines. An additional 759 acres (1.18 square miles) were voluntarily annexed to the city over that same period of time.
consists of five central Iowa counties: , , , and . The area had a 2000 census population of 481,394 and an estimated 2014 population of 768,927. The Des Moines--
consists of those four counties plus
C the 2000 census population of this area was 550,659, and the estimated 2009 population was 631,805. Des Moines' suburban communities include , , , , , , , , , , , , and .
Located at the center of North America and far removed from large bodies of water, the Des Moines area has a hot summer type
( Dfa), with hot, humid summers and cold, snowy winters. Summer temperatures can often climb into the 90 °F (32 °C) range, occasionally reaching 100 °F (38 °C). Humidity can be high in spring and summer, with frequent afternoon . Fall brings pleasant temperatures and colorful . Winters vary from moderately cold to bitterly cold, with low temperatures venturing below 0 °F (-18 °C) quite often. Snowfall averages 35.3 inches (90 cm) per season, and annual precipitation averages 36.0 inches (914 mm), with a peak in the warmer months. Winters are slightly colder than , but still warmer than , with summer temperatures being very similar between the
metropolitan areas.
Climate data for , Iowa ( normals, extremes 1878–present)
Record high °F (°C)
Mean maximum °F (°C)
53.1 (11.7)
59.1 (15.1)
75.0 (23.9)
84.0 (28.9)
87.6 (30.9)
96.3 (35.7)
95.2 (35.1)
90.4 (32.4)
69.1 (20.6)
55.8 (13.2)
97.8 (36.6)
Average high °F (°C)
31.0 (-0.6)
36.1 (2.3)
49.0 (9.4)
62.3 (16.8)
72.4 (22.4)
81.6 (27.6)
85.7 (29.8)
83.8 (28.8)
76.1 (24.5)
63.1 (17.3)
47.9 (8.8)
34.0 (1.1)
60.4 (15.8)
Average low °F (°C)
14.3 (-9.8)
18.8 (-7.3)
29.7 (-1.3)
41.1 (5.1)
52.2 (11.2)
62.0 (16.7)
66.8 (19.3)
64.8 (18.2)
55.2 (12.9)
43.0 (6.1)
30.5 (-0.8)
18.0 (-7.8)
41.5 (5.3)
Mean minimum °F (°C)
-7.8 (-22.1)
-4.1 (-20.1)
9.5 (-12.5)
23.7 (-4.6)
37.6 (3.1)
49.1 (9.5)
56.3 (13.5)
53.5 (11.9)
38.0 (3.3)
26.2 (-3.2)
12.4 (-10.9)
-3.6 (-19.8)
-12.8 (-24.9)
Record low °F (°C)
inches (mm)
1.00 (25.4)
1.28 (32.5)
2.30 (58.4)
4.74 (120.4)
4.94 (125.5)
4.47 (113.5)
4.13 (104.9)
3.05 (77.5)
2.64 (67.1)
2.19 (55.6)
1.42 (36.1)
36.02 (914.9)
Average snowfall inches (cm)
8.5 (21.6)
7.9 (20.1)
5.2 (13.2)
9.0 (22.9)
35.3 (89.7)
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in)
Average snowy days (≥ 0.1 in)
Mean monthly
Source: NOAA (relative humidity and sun )
502—3,965689.8%12,035203.5%22,40886.2%50,093123.5%62,13924.0%86,36839.0%126,46846.4%142,55912.7%159,81912.1%177,96511.4%208,98217.4%201,404-3.6%191,003-5.2%193,1871.1%198,6822.8%203,4332.4%Est. 2017216,5336.4%U.S. Decennial Census
Map of racial distribution in Des Moines, 2010 U.S. Census. Each dot is 25 people: White, Black, Asian, Hispanic or Other (yellow)
Demographic profile
(of any race)
of 2010, there were 203,433 people, 81,369 households, and 47,491 families residing in the city.
was 2,515.6 inhabitants per square mile (971.3/km2). There were 88,729 housing units at an average density of 1,097.2 per square mile (423.6/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 76.4% , 10.2% , 0.5% , 4.4%
(1.2% Vietnamese, 0.9% Laotian, 0.4% Burmese, 0.3% Asian Indian, 0.3% Thai, 0.2% Chinese, 0.2% Cambodian, 0.2% Filipino, 0.1% Hmong, 0.1% Korean, 0.1% Nepalese), 0.1% , 5.0% from , and 3.4% from two or more races. People of
origin, of any race, formed 12.0% of the population (9.4% Mexican, 0.7% Salvadoran, 0.3% Guatemalan, 0.3% Puerto Rican, 0.1% Honduran, 0.1% Ecuadorian, 0.1% Cuban, 0.1% Spaniard, 0.1% Spanish).
were 70.5% of the population in 2010.There were 81,369 households of which 31.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 38.9% were
living together, 14.2% had a female householder with no husband present, 5.3% had a male householder with no wife present, and 41.6% were non-families. 32.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.43 and the average family size was 3.11.
The median age in the city was 33.5 years. 24.8% of residents were under the age of 18; 10.9% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 29.4% were from 25 to 44; 23.9% were from 45 to 64; and 11% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 48.9% male and 51.1% female.
As of the 2000 census, there were 198,682 people, 80,504 households, and 48,704 families in the city. The population density was 2,621.3 people per square mile (1,012.0/km?). There were 85,067 housing units at an average density of 1,122.3 per square mile (433.3/km?). The
of the city was 82.3% , 8.07% , 0.35% , 3.50% Asian, 0.05% , 3.52% from , and 2.23% from two or more races. 6.61% of the population were
of any race. 20.9% were of , 10.3% Irish, 9.1% "American" and 8.0% English ancestry, according to .
There were 80,504 households out of which 29.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 43.7% were married couples living together, 12.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 39.5% were non-families. 31.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.39 and the average family size was 3.04.
Age spread: 24.8% under the age of 18, 10.6% from 18 to 24, 31.8% from 25 to 44, 20.4% from 45 to 64, and 12.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females, there were 93.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.5 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $38,408, and the median income for a family was $46,590. Males had a median income of $31,712 versus $25,832 for females. The per capita income for the city was $19,467. About 7.9% of families and 11.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 14.9% of those under age 18 and 7.6% of those ages 65 or over.
Des Moines' Top Non-Government Employers (2014)
# ofEmployees
Many insurance companies are headquartered in Des Moines, including the , EMC Insurance Group, , , ,
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
companies with headquarters in Iowa, ranking 273rd on the magazine's list in 2009.As a center of financial and insurance services, other major corporations headquartered outside of Iowa have established a presence in the Des Moines Metro area, including , , and . The , a leading publishing and marketing company, is also based in Des Moines.
publishes , one of the most widely circulated publications in the . Des Moines is also the headquarters of
Other major employers in Des Moines include , , , , ,
Agricultural Tire Company, , , , , Anderson Erickson, Dee Zee and .In 2010,
magazine ranked the Des Moines metropolitan area first on its list of "Best Places For Business And Careers", based on factors such as the cost of doing business, , educational attainment, and crime rate.In 2017,
opened a state-of-the-art worldwide headquarters building in Des Moines.
The Civic Center of Greater Des Moines
The City of Des Moines is a cultural center for Iowa and home to several art and history museums and
groups. The Des Moines Performing Arts routinely hosts
and other live professional theater. Its president and CEO, Jeff Chelsvig, is a member of the League of American Theatres and Producers, Inc. The Temple for Performing Arts and Des Moines Playhouse are other venues for live theatre, comedy, and performance arts.
has been a respected cultural resource in Des Moines since 1973. The Opera offers award-winning educational and outreach programs and is one of the largest performing arts organizations in the state.
was established in 2002. Currently performing three productions each year, the Ballet also provides opportunities for education and outreach.
performs frequently at different venues. In addition to performing seven pairs of classical concerts each season, the Symphony also entertains with New Year's Eve Pops and its annual Yankee Doodle Pops concerts.
produces Jazz in July every year, that offers free jazz shows daily at various venues throughout the city during the entire month of July.
Wells Fargo Arena
Des Moines Art Center
is the Des Moines area's primary venue for sporting events and concerts since its opening in 2005. Named for title sponsor Wells Fargo Financial Services, Wells Fargo Arena holds 16,980 and books large, national touring acts for
performances, while several smaller venues host local, regional, and national bands. It is the home of the
of the , the
of the , and the
Riverfront Amphitheater is an outdoor concert venue located on the east bank of the
which hosts music events such as the Alive Concert Series.
The , with a wing designed by architect , presents art exhibitions and educational programs as well as hands-on studio art classes. The Center houses an internationally renowned collection of artwork from the 19th century to the present. An extension of the world-renowned art center is located downtown in an energetic urban museum space, featuring three or four exciting and fresh exhibitions each year. A Museum shop offers unique gifts, jewelry, cards, and books.
For the first time in Iowa history, a play was performed at the Iowa State Capitol on August 23, 2014. 'Lincoln's Last Interview', written and directed by Emmy nominee Brent Roske, was performed in the House of Representatives chamber with the audience seated at the desks. Iowa news host Elizabeth Klinge played a reporter interviewing Abraham and Mary Lincoln, played by Matthew McIver and Mary Bricker.
The Pappajohn Sculpture Park in the Downtown's
plays host to the .
Dedicated September 27, 2009, the Pappajohn Sculpture Park located in Western Gateway Park from 10th to 15th Streets and between Grand Avenue and Locust Street, showcases a collection of 24 world-class sculptures valued at more than $40 million donated by Des Moines philanthropists John and Mary Pappajohn. Resting on 4.4 acres (2 ha) of green space, the sculpture park is designed as an outdoor art museum. Nearby is the beautifully restored and historic Temple for Performing Arts, reborn as a cultural center for the city. Next to the Temple is the 117,000-square-foot (10,900 m2) Central Library, with its ultramodern, freeform architecture and "organic" roof designed by renowned English architect .
is a 42-room historic house museum located on 10 acres (4 ha) of woodlands in the South of Grand neighborhood of Des Moines. It is named after—and loosely inspired by—King's House in , England. Built in the 1920s by cosmetics magnate Carl Weeks and his wife, Edith, the Salisbury House contains authentic 16th-century English oak and rafters dating to 's days, numerous other architectural features re-purposed from other historic English homes, and an internationally significant collection of original fine art, tapestries, decorative art, furniture, musical instruments, and rare books and documents. The Salisbury House is listed on the , and has been featured on A&E's
and PBS's . Prominent artists in the Salisbury House collection include , ,
Built in 1877 by prominent pioneer businessman ,
mansion was Des Moines' first public art gallery and houses a distinctive collection of 19th and 20th century artwork. Its restored 1,250-seat theater features an intricate
plaster ceiling and excellent acoustics and is used for a variety of cultural performances and entertainment.
The , completed in 1886, is the one of two state capitols to feature five domes, a central golden dome surrounded by four smaller domes. The other is the .
Arising in the east and facing westward toward downtown, the
building with its 275-foot (84 m), 23-karat gold leafed dome towering above the city is a favorite of sightseers. Four smaller domes flank the main dome. The Capitol houses the governor's offices, legislature, and the old Supreme Court Chambers. The ornate interior also features a grand staircase, mural "Westward", five-story law library, scale model of the , and collection of first lady dolls. Guided tours are available. The Capitol grounds include a World War II memorial with sculpture and Wall of Memories. Other monuments include the 1894 Soldiers and Sailors Monument of the
and memorials honoring those who served in the , , and .
The West Capitol Terrace provides a stunning entrance from the west to the state's grandest building, the . With its picturesque views, the lush, 10-acre (4 ha) "people's park" at the foot of the Capitol complex includes a promenade and landscaped gardens, in addition to providing public space for rallies and special events. A granite map of Iowa depicting all 99 counties rests at the base of the terrace and has become a popular attraction for in-state visitors, many of whom can be seen walking over the map to find their home county.
The State of Iowa Historical Museum is located near the state capitol in Des Moines' East Village.
Iowa's history lives on in the . This modern granite and glass structure at the foot of the State Capitol Building houses permanent and temporary exhibits exploring the people, places, events, and issues of Iowa's past. The showcase includes native wildlife,
and pioneer artifacts, and political and military items. The museum features a genealogy and Iowa history library, museum gift shop, and cafe.
, a National Historic Landmark and Iowa Governor's Residence, is among the best examples of American Victorian Second Empire architecture. This opulent 1869 home was built by Iowa's first millionaire, , and restored to the late 19th century period. It overlooks downtown Des Moines and is situated on 8 acres (3.2 ha) with a re-created Victorian formal garden. Tours are conducted Tuesdays through Saturdays from March through December.
The 110,000-square-foot (10,000 m2) Science Center of Iowa and Blank IMAX Dome Theater offers seven interactive learning areas, live programs, and hands-on activities encouraging learning and fun for all ages. Among its three theaters include the 216-seat Blank IMAX Dome Theater, 175-seat
Adventure Theater featuring live performances, and a 50-foot (15 m) domed Star Theater.
Exterior of the Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden building and dome
is an indoor conservatory of over 15,000 exotic plants, one of the largest collections of tropical, subtropical, and desert-growing plants in the Midwest. The Center blooms with thousands of flowers year-round. Beautiful and extensive exterior gardens are also located here. Nearby are the Robert D. Ray Asian Gardens and Pavilion, named in honor of the former governor whose influence helped relocate thousands of Vietnamese refugees to Iowa homes in the 1970s and 1980s. Developed by the city's Asian community, the Gardens include a three-story Chinese pavilion, bonsai landscaping, and granite sculptures to highlight the importance of diversity and recognize Asian American contributions in Iowa.
is a beautifully landscaped 22-acre (8.9 ha) zoological park located on the south side. Among the exhibits include a tropical rain forest, Australian Outback, and Africa. The Zoo offers education classes, tours, and rental facilities.
was established as a scientific research facility with a 230-acre (93 ha) campus housing bonobos and orangutans for the noninvasive interdisciplinary study of their cognitive and communicative capabilities.
Locust Street looking east from 4th Street toward the Iowa State Capitol in East Village
The , located on the east side of the , 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 galleries, and a wide variety of other retail establishments mixed with residences.
is an amusement park in neighboring , just northeast of Des Moines. The park boasts more than 100 rides, shows, and attractions, including four roller coasters. A hotel and campground is located just outside the park. Also in Altoona is , a popular entertainment venue for gambling and horse racing. Open 24 hours a day, year-round, the racetrack and casino features live racing, plus over 1,750 slot machines, table games, and concert and show entertainment.
in suburban
tells the story of Midwestern agriculture and rural life in an 500-acre (2.0 km2) open-air museum with interpreters dressed in period costume who recreate the daily routines of early Iowans. Open daily from May through October, the Living History Farms include a 1700 Ioway Indian village, 1850 pioneer farm, 1875 frontier town, 1900 horse-powered farm, and a modern crop center.
was the home of the first Henry Wallace, a national leader in agriculture and conservation and the first editor of
farm journal. This restored 1883 Italianate Victorian houses exhibits, artifacts, and information covering four generations of Henry Wallaces and other family members.
is a stately Victorian home built in 1850 and added to in 1870 by the first white settler in West Des Moines, . Completely refurbished, this mansion was once part of the
and today houses 16 period rooms, a railroad museum, West Des Moines community history, and a museum dedicated to the Underground Railroad in Iowa. In 1893 Jordan's daughter Eda was sliding down the banister when she fell off and broke her neck. She died two days later, and her ghost is reputed to haunt the house. wrote that Iowa's capital city has "walker-friendly downtown streets and enough outdoor sculpture, sleek buildings, storefronts and cafes to delight the most jaded stroller".
The 4th Street Neighborhood is located within the Court Avenue Entertainment District of Downtown Des Moines.
The Grand Concourse, located between the Grandstand and the Varied Industries Building, during the 2006 Iowa State Fair
Des Moines plays host to a growing number of nationally acclaimed cultural events, including the annual
in June, Metro Arts Jazz in July,
in August, and the World Food & Music Festival in September. On Saturdays from May through October, the popular Downtown Farmers' Market draws visitors from across the state and is ranked the second best market in the country. Popular parades include Saint Patrick's Day Parade,
Parade, Capitol City Pride Parade,
Parade, Labor Day Parade, and
Fall Festival Parade.
Other annual festivals and events include: Des Moines Beer Week, , 515 Alive Music Festival, ArtFest Midwest, Blue Ribbon Bacon Fest, CelebrAsian 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, , ImaginEve!, Iowa's Premier Beer, Wine & Food Show, and Wild Rose Film Festival.
Des Moines Police Museum & Historical Society
Science Center of Iowa
– Official residence of the Governor of Iowa
Hall of Laureates
Des Moines currently operates under a
form of government. The council consists of a mayor (currently, ) and is elected in citywide vote, two at-large members, and four members representing each of the city's four wards. In 2014, Jonathan Gano was appointed as the new Public Works Director. In 2015, Dana Wingert was appointed as Police Chief. In 2018, Steven L. Naber was appointed as the new City Engineer.The current council members include:
Term Expries
T. M. Franklin Cownie
January 2004
January 2020
January 2014
January 2022
Linda Westergaard
January 2016
January 2020
Josh Mandelbaum
January 2018
January 2022
March 2014
January 2020
Christopher Coleman
March 1998
January 2020
Connie Boesen
January 2018
January 2022
A plan to merge the governments of Des Moines and Polk County was rejected by voters during the November 2, 2004, election. The
government would have had a full-time mayor and a 15-member council that would have been divided among the city and its suburbs. Each suburb would have still retained its individual government but had the option to join the consolidated government at any time. Although a full merger was soundly rejected, many city and county departments and programs have been consolidated.
Memorial Pedestrian Bridge over
Des Moines has an extensive skywalk system within its downtown core. With over four miles of enclosed walkway, it is one of the largest of such systems in the United States. The Des Moines Skywalk System has been criticized for hurting street-level business, though a recent initiative has been made to make street-level Skywalk entrances more visible.
Skywalks connecting buildings over 8th Street in the Downtown Core of Des Moines
(I-235) cuts through the city, and
both pass through the Des Moines metropolitan area, as well as the city of Des Moines. On the northern side of the city of Des Moines and passing through the 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 western edge of the metro. Des Moines' freeway design makes it easy for travelers. A motorist who misses an exit at the interstate "mixmasters" at the eastern and western edges of the metro eventually ends up at the convergence of the same interstates at the opposite side of the metro. These Interstates include I-35, I-80, and I-235. I-235, which takes the brunt of most congestion, is six lanes throughout the entire length and expands to eight and ten lanes near the downtown area. The remainder of traffic congestion in the area occurs near the East and West Mixmasters on either side of Des Moines. I-35 south of the West Mixmaster is currently being widened to six lanes all the way to the
(Iowa 5) bypass interchanges.
Due to increasing budget constraints, the 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. The East Mixmaster has also undergone a redesign with wider lanes and redesign of bridges allowing easier traffic flow in all directions along I-35, I-80, and I-235.
(US 65) and Iowa 5 form a freeway loop, known as the "South Belt Freeway," to the east and south of the city, providing a route through the southern part of the metropolitan area. , , , , , , and
are also important routes to and within 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 renamed Interstate 335, giving the Des Moines Metropolitan Area an interstate running from the northeast suburb of
to the southeastern suburb of
and then connect with I-35 in the southern part of .
An original Des Moines Skywalk Entrance
Des Moines's public transit system, operated by DART (), 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.
In 2008, a light rail system was proposed for Des Moines, but, as of
July 2017, it has yet to receive funding or popular support.[]Characteristics of household ownership of cars in Des Moines are similar to national averages.
percent of Des Moines households lacked a car, and increased to 9.6 percent in 2016. The national average was 8.7 percent in 2016. Des Moines averaged 1.71 cars per household in 2016, compared to a national average of 1.8., , and
run long-distance, inter-city bus routes through Des Moines.
Although Des Moines was historically a train hub, it does not currently have passenger train service. For east-west traffic it was served by 's Corn Belt Rocket express from
to the west, to
in the east. The Rock Island also offered the
to Minneapolis to the north and Dallas and Houston to the south. Northward and northwest bound, there were
trains to destinations including Minneapolis. The
ran service to the southeast to .
The nearest
station is , about 40 miles (64 km) south of Des Moines, with no connecting .
is served by the , running between
There have been proposals to extend the as-of-July-2017-upcoming
main line to Des Moines proper.[]
The Des Moines Rock Island station
(DSM), located on Fleur Drive in the southern part of Des Moines, offers nonstop service to destinations within the United States. Currently the only international service is cargo service, but there have been discussions about adding an international terminal.
Old Main on the campusof
district is the largest community school district in Iowa with 32,062 enrolled students as of the
school year. The district consists of 63 schools: 38 elementary schools, eleven , five high schools (, , , , and ), and ten special schools and programs. Small parts of the city are instead served by , , the
is the only private school in the city, although
(located in Des Moines from 1947 to 2006) in Urbandale, Iowa Christian Academy and
in West Des Moines, and Ankeny Christian Academy on the north side of the metro area serve some city residents.
Des Moines is also home to the main campuses of three four-year private colleges: , , and . The
has two satellite fa , , and
also maintain classroom facilities in suburban locations.
with classrooms in the area include , , and .
is the area's
with campuses in Ankeny, Des Moines, and West Des Moines. The city is also home to , an .
The Des Moines market, which originally consisted of , Dallas, , and
counties, was ranked 91st by
as of the fall of 2007 with a population of 512,000 aged 12 and older. But in June 2011 it was moved up to 72nd with the addition of , , , , , ,
Two heavy metal/hard rock bands from Des Moines are
and . Both feature
of Des Moines as lead singer.
Most of Des Moines' commercial radio stations are owned by one of four companies.
owns five radio stations in the area, including
1040 am, a 50,000-watt AM
station that has the highest ratings in the area and once employed future President
as a sportscaster. In addition to WHO, iHeartMedia owns
100.3 FM (),
107.5 FM (),
106.3 FM (), and
1460 am (). (They also own news/talk station
1430 am and
105.1 FM, both of which broadcast from .)
owns five stations that broadcast from facilities in :
1700 am (sports),
94.9 FM (),
97.3 FM (),
92.5 FM (country music), and
98.3 FM (). Saga Communications owns seven stations in the area:
103.3 FM (),
93.3 FM (),
99.9FM & 93.3 HD2 (),
104.1 FM (),
940 am ( & religious teaching),
1350 am (), and
102.5 FM (). Other stations in the Des Moines area include religious stations
1150 am, and
Non-commercial radio stations in the Des Moines area include
88.1 FM, a stat
88.7 FM, a
89.3 FM, an urban
K213DV 90.5 FM, the contemporary Christian K-Love af and KDFR 91.3 FM, operated by .
broadcasts several stations in the Des Moines area, all of which are owned by
and operated on campus.
640 am, the networks flagship station, and
90.1, the networks flagship "Studio One" station, are both based out of Ames and serve as the area's
outlets. The network also operates classical stations , ,
Low-power FM stations include 's , on the 94.1 frequency, and KFMG-LP 99.1, a community radio station broadcasting from the
and also webstreamed.
The Des Moines-Ames
consists of 35 central Iowa counties: , , , , Boone, , , Clarke, Dallas, , , Greene, Guthrie, , , , Jasper, , Lucas, Madison, , Marion, , , , Polk, , , Story, , , Warren, , , and . It was ranked 71st by
television season with 432,410 television households.Commercial television stations serving Des Moines include
channel 8,
channel 13, and
channel 17.
channel 5 and
channel 23 are both licensed to
and broadcast from studios in West Des Moines.
channel 39, the local
affiliate, is licensed to Newton. Two non-commercial stations are also licensed to Des Moines: KDIN channel 11, the local
member station and flagship of the
network, and
channel 19, a
affiliate.
is the Des Moines area's cable television provider.
is the city's primary daily newspaper. As of March 31, 2007, the Register ranked 71st in circulation among daily newspapers in the United States according to the
with 146,050 daily and 233,229 Sunday subscribers. Weekly newspapers include Juice, a publication aimed at the 25–34 demographic published by the Register on W , an
published on T and the Des Moines Business Record, a business journal published 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. Additionally, magazine publisher
is based in Des Moines.
Sec Taylor Field at Principal Park, during a May 28, 2006, game against the . The Iowa Capitol is visible beyond the center-field wall.
Des Moines hosts professional minor league teams in several sports — baseball, basketball, hockey, indoor football, and soccer — and is home to the sports teams of Drake University which play in NCAA Division I. In 2017, Des Moines was ranked as the #1 Minor League Sports city in the US by SportsBusiness Journal.
Des Moines is home to the
baseball team of the . The I-Cubs, which are the Class AAA team of the major league , play their home games at
near the confluence of the Des Moines and Raccoon Rivers.
is home to the
of the , the
of the , and the
of the . The Wild, the AHL affiliate of the 's
have played at Wells Fargo Arena since 2013; previously, the
played four seasons in Des Moines (known as the Iowa Stars for three of those seasons.) The Barnstormers relaunched as an
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
Hall of Famer and
) before . The Iowa Energy, a D-League team, began play in 2007. They were bought by the
in 2017 and were renamed the
to reflect the new ownership.
Two other sports teams play in suburban Des Moines. The
in , and the
soccer team play at
Des Moines is home to the
member of the , primarily playing northwest of downtown at the on-campus
and . Drake Stadium is home to the famed
each April. In addition to the Drake Relays,
has hosted multiple
Outdoor Track and Field Championships and .The
also compete in intercollegiate athletics in Des Moines. A member of the , within the , they field 21 varsity athletic teams. They
National Champions in football in 2013.
The , a Champions Tour golf event, is held at Wakonda Club in late May or early June. The IMT
is held throughout the city each October.
Professional and Division I sports teams
Kruidenier Trail bridge across Gray's Lake
Des Moines has 76 city parks and three golf courses, as well as three family aquatic centers, five community centers and three swimming pools. The city has 45 miles (72 km) of trails. The first major park was Greenwood park. The park commissioners purchased the land on April 21, 1894.
is a riverwalk park district currently being constructed along the banks of the Des Moines River in the downtown. Primarily funded by the , the Riverwalk is a multi-year jointly funded project also funded by the city and state. Upon completion, it will feature a 1.2-mile (1.9 km) recreational trail connecting the east and west sides of downtown via two pedestrian bridges. A landscaped promenade along the street level is planned. The Riverwalk includes the downtown Brenton Skating Plaza, open from November through March.
Gray's Lake, part of the 167 acres (68 ha) of Gray's Lake Park, features a boat rental facility, fishing pier, floating boardwalks, and a park resource center. Located just south of the downtown, the centerpiece of the park is a lighted 1.9-mile (3.1 km) Kruidenier Trail, encircling it entirely.
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 , Big Creek State Park, and the recreational trails of
including the . These trails are near several recreational facilities including the Pete Crivaro Park, , the Principal Riverwalk, the , Union Park and its Heritage Carousel of Des Moines, Birdland Park and the Birdland Marina/Boatramp on the , Riverview Park, McHenry Park, and River Drive Park. Although outside of Des Moines, Jester Park has 1,834 acres (742 ha) of land along the western shore of
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 . The Water Works Park is located along the banks of the
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 located entirely within the Water Works Park. A bridge in the park crosses the Raccoon River. The Water Works Park recreational trails link to downtown Des Moines by travelling past Gray's Lake and back across the Raccoon River via either along the Meredith Trail near Principal Park, or along the Martin Luther King Jr. Parkway. The Water Works Park trails connect westward to
of the western suburbs: , , , and . Also originating from Water Works Park, the
is an 18-mile (29 km) journey southward from Des Moines to
through the Willow Creek Golf Course, Orilla, and . Often, the location for summer music festivals and concerts, Water Works Park was the overnight campground for thousands of bicyclists on Tuesday, July 23, 2013, during
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
relationships with five world communities:
, Japan (August 16, 1958)
, France (May 29, 1985)
– , People's Republic of China (August 8, 1985)
, Russia (July 27, 1992)
, Italy (June 26, 2006)
2013 (Kosovo also opened Consulate in downtown Des Moines in 2015)
Mean monthly maxima and minima (i.e. the expected highest and lowest temperature readings at any point during the year or given month) calculated based on data at said location from 1981 to 2010.
Official records for Des Moines kept August 1878 to August 1939 at downtown and at Des Moines Int'l since September 1939. For more information, see
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Des Moines Public Schools. . Archived from
on August 19, .
"." () . Retrieved on April 3, 2013. "Carlisle Elementary School, which is immediately adjacent to the high school and the district office, serves students from pre-kindergarten to grade 3."
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Comprehensive Statistical Data and more about Des Moines, Iowa