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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

Iowa House fails to adjourn, will return Thursday for final votes on 4 bills

May 23, 2013 5:42 am

The Iowa Senate finished its work for the 2013 legislative session late Wednesday night, but the House didn't.

Senate passes health-care compromise, sends it to House for debate today

May 23, 2013 5:40 am

HEALTH CARE: After arguing for months over how to provide health care to poor Iowa adults, the Iowa Senate approved a compromise plan late Wednesday and sent it to the House.

Iowa Senate OKs health, human services bill before adjourning

May 23, 2013 5:39 am

The Iowa Senate approved a $1.7 billion health and human services funding bill Wednesday night intended to help some of the state's neediest people.

Abductee who escaped says Klunder asked girls to mow lawns

May 23, 2013 2:46 am

KATHLYNN SHEPARD KIDNAPPING: The 12-year-old girl who was abducted along with Kathlynn Shepard this week told a local newspaper that the girls got in the kidnapper's pickup truck after he asked if the...

Jason Glass, Iowa education director, lands superintendent job in Colorado

May 23, 2013 12:42 am

IOWA SCHOOLS: Iowa's top education official and a leading advocate for school reform is leaving the state. Jason Glass, director of the state's Department of Education, was appointed superintendent of...

Budget bill with $2.65B for school funding passes Legislature

May 22, 2013 11:30 pm

The Iowa Legislature on Wednesday approved its standing appropriations budget, a $2.99 billion spending bill that funds a huge chunk of K-12 education in the state and a grab bag of other programs, se...

New clues among reason for optimism in search for Kathlynn Shepard

May 22, 2013 10:28 pm

KATHLYNN SHEPARD KIDNAPPING: The family of missing Dayton teen Kathlynn Shepard released its first public statement Wednesday afternoon since their daughter was abducted Monday in Dayton after steppin...

Okla. tornado damages could hit $2 billion

May 22, 2013 9:58 pm

As search and rescue operations wind down and this battered, exhausted city mourns its dead, attention is turning to a long, costly rebuilding effort. Up to 13,000 homes were damaged or destroyed by M...

Grimes to test storm sirens

May 22, 2013 9:54 pm

Grimes will test its storm sirens tonight between 5:30 and 6 p.m. The city tested the sirens Monday, and found only two of the three sirens worked correctly.

Iowa House passes education reform

May 22, 2013 8:34 pm

IOWA EDUCATION REFORM: The Iowa House has passed an education reform package aimed at improving student achievement and making the teaching profession more appealing and rewarding.

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