General Care Communities
Des Moines Metro
Area Info
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.
Articles
News from The Des Moines Register
Des Moines leaders seek to allay flood fears
Mar 19, 2010 1:37 am
Iowa red-light runners; speeders face even higher fines
Mar 19, 2010 12:12 am
Various driving or vehicle violations would substantially increase - some such as illegally handicap parking would double to $200 - under a bill approved tonight by the House.
Details emerge in case of fired Des Moines police officer
Mar 18, 2010 9:31 pm
The city of Des Moines has filed its formal response to Maynard Richardson’s contesting of his Feb. 24 firing from the Des Moines department.
Negotiators have tentative deal on texting-while-driving ban
Mar 18, 2010 8:17 pm
Plan calls for ban on sending text messages while driving, but drivers could not be pulled over for it unless police also suspect them of breaking another law.
Alliant stock falls after wrangling over rate hike
Mar 18, 2010 8:13 pm
Alliant Energy has turned down Gov. Chet Culver’s request that it not impose a 10 percent rate increase on its 525,000 Iowa customers beginning Saturday.
Costs for temporary levees to reach $225,000 or more
Mar 18, 2010 7:23 pm
Costs to construct temporary levees in flood prone areas around Des Moines are expected to reach $225,000 or more, Public Works Director Bill Stowe said today.
Pioneer expansion could get up to $7.3 million in tax credits
Mar 18, 2010 7:23 pm
Pioneer Hi-Bred’s $154 million expansion in Johnston will qualify for a maximum $7.3 million in state tax credits, primarily for research and development at the new facility, economic develop...
Universities might cut taxpayer support for athletics
Mar 18, 2010 6:16 pm
The presidents of Iowa State University and the University of Northern Iowa would draw up timelines by September to trim or eliminate taxpayer money from their athletic budgets under a plan the Iowa B...
Latest on Saylorville: Water won’t top spillway
Mar 18, 2010 6:14 pm
The emergency extension or bladder atop the Saylorville Lake spillway now is expected to hold back Des Moines River floodwaters.
Iowa schools making doomsday predictions, Senate leader says
Mar 18, 2010 5:00 pm
Schools have made “doomsday-scenario budgets” but the reality is brighter, Iowa Senate Majority Leader Michael Gronstal said today.
