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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

Ankeny superintendent against banning controversial book

Dec 2, 2008 2:51 am

Tango the penguin and his same-sex parents may be granted a reprieve if the Ankeny school board accepts a recommendation by the district’s superintendent not to ban a controversial book from ...

Homeless camp residents will have to leave huts

Dec 2, 2008 12:13 am

Residents of a north-side homeless camp will be ordered Tuesday to vacate five makeshift huts the city has declared unfit for occupancy, Des Moines officials said at a press conference this evening.

Farm exports expected to fall by $15 billion

Dec 1, 2008 11:24 pm

Washington, D.C. - The global economic slowdown is taking a toll on agricultural exports.

Urbandale city manager enters negotiations for Wichita job

Dec 1, 2008 6:58 pm

Urbandale City Manager Robert Layton Monday morning accepted the Wichita, Kan., position and will enter contract negotiations with officials there.

Wind vexes Iowa drivers, road crews

Dec 1, 2008 6:32 pm

Roads in western Iowa have been mostly cleared, but roads in the eastern half of the state are getting pounded with high winds and blowing snow.

Obama announces Clinton, Gates for Cabinet

Dec 1, 2008 5:19 pm

President-elect Barack Obama picked a national security team headed by former campaign rival Hillary Rodham Clinton and Bush administration holdover Robert Gates on Monday, and said he wants to consul...

30 Iowa airmen return to Des Moines today

Dec 1, 2008 3:42 pm

Thirty airmen from an Iowa Air National Guard unit will return to Des Moines today after completing a tour of duty in Saudi Arabia.

Windsor Heights holiday lighting contest begins next week

Dec 1, 2008 2:33 pm

The Windsor Heights Foundation is again sponsoring a holiday decorating contest.

Slippery conditions reported in Des Moines metro area

Dec 1, 2008 12:25 pm

Be careful on the roads this morning. wet pavement, ice and snow covered roads are reported in the Des Moines metro area.

Some Iowa schools on late start this a.m.

Dec 1, 2008 10:45 am

Several rural school districts are on late start this morning due to weather

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