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Des Moines is the capital of and the most populous city in the State of Iowa, United States. It was incorporated on September 22, 1851, as Fort Des Moines, owing its name to the Des Moines River (French: Rivière Des Moines, meaning "River of the Monks"), until it was shortened to "Des Moines" in 1857. It is also the county seat of Polk County. The five-county metropolitan area is ranked 92nd in terms of population in the United States according to 2006 estimates with 534,230 residents according to United States Census Bureau.
Des Moines is a major center for the insurance industry and also has a sizeable financial services and publishing business base. The city is the headquarters for the Principal Financial Group, the Meredith Corporation, and Ruan Transportation. Other major corporations such as Wells Fargo, ING Group, Marsh, and Pioneer Hi-Bred have large operations in or near the metro area. Forbes Magazine ranked Des Moines as the fourth "Best Place for Business" in 2007.
Recently, Des Moines has been experiencing rapid growth in the western and southern suburbs and is quickly becoming a large metropolitan area and national center for financial business.

Of Interest

News from The Des Moines Register

Report: Preschool gains are gone by grade 3

Jun 20, 2013 2:11 am

Early academic gains by children in Iowa's preschool program disappear by third grade, according to a report received Wednesday by lawmakers.

Video: Tightrope walker prepares for Grand Canyon stunt

Jun 20, 2013 1:14 am

High-wire daredevil Nik Wallenda is practices for his walk across the Grand Canyon without a safety harness or net.

Medicaid-paid abortions need governor's OK

Jun 20, 2013 1:01 am

Gov. Terry Branstad will sign one of the most significant bills of the year into law during a ceremony Thursday morning in Mason City, extending government-paid health care to tens of thousands of Iow...

Baked Alaska: Unusual heat wave hits 49th state

Jun 19, 2013 10:52 pm

A heat wave hitting Alaska may not rival the blazing heat of Phoenix or Las Vegas, but to residents of the 49th state, the days of hot weather feel like a stifling oven - or a tropical paradise.

In Washington, Steve King holds 6-hour press conference on immigration

Jun 19, 2013 9:20 pm

IMMIGRATION & IOWA: Rep. Steve King, R-Iowa, an outspoken critic of the push to overhaul the country's immigration law, joined hundreds of supporters in a rally on Wednesday in an effort to build ...

Residents plan 2nd meeting against warehouse near Southeast Polk schools

Jun 19, 2013 7:59 pm

SOUTHEAST POLK: Members of the group say the warehouse development - proposed for a 71-acre site half a mile west of SEP High School - will bring a dangerous influx of semi-trailer truck traffic and d...

Interactive: Where bridges need most work

Jun 19, 2013 7:55 pm

States with the highest percentage of deficient bridges, with total number per state.

Supermoon will light up Saturday night sky

Jun 19, 2013 7:25 pm

The moon's orbit and its phases will coincide this weekend to make the largest full moon seen from Earth this year.

Glass: Aug. 20 school start date would be a reasonable' compromise

Jun 19, 2013 6:29 pm

SCHOOL START DATE DEBATE: Moving the state's school start date to Aug. 20 could be the compromise needed to satisfy both educators and the tourism industry, according to Jason Glass, outgoing director...

Grassley: IRS to pay $70M in employee bonuses

Jun 19, 2013 6:00 pm

IRS SCANDALS: The Internal Revenue Service is about to pay $70 million in employee bonuses despite an Obama administration directive to cancel discretionary bonuses.

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