DES MOINES

city, capital of Iowa, U.S., and seat (1845) of Polk county, in the south-central part of the state, in the heart of the Corn Belt. It is the focus of a metropolitan area that includes West Des Moines, Urbandale, and Pleasant Hill. Fort Des Moines was established in 1843 at the juncture of the Raccoon and Des Moines rivers to protect the rights of the Sauk and Fox Indians. The area was opened to white settlers in 1845. East Des Moines developed and by 1856 had amalgamated with Fort Des Moines to form the present city. The origin of the place-name is controversial; it is possibly a French corruption of the Indian name for the river, Moingona, or it may be derived from the French de moyen (middle), being midway between the Missouri and Mississippi rivers. When the state capital was moved there from Iowa City in 1857, its growth was assured. The capitol (187196), in revived classical Roman style, stands in an 80-acre (32-hectare) park. From 1910 to 1920 Des Moines expanded rapidly because of the development of local coal deposits. The state's largest city, it is a communication hub and also a major insurance, wholesaling, retailing, manufacturing (notably tires and farm implements), governmental, and publishing centre (especially for farm journals). Des Moines is the site of Drake University (1881), Grand View College (1896), College of Osteopathic Medicine and Surgery (1898), and the KRNT Theatre (one of the nation's largest theatres). Also in the city are the Iowa State Fair Grounds with Heritage Village (displaying early farm machinery and replicas of pioneer buildings) and the Iowa Museum of Agriculture. Living History Farms in Urbandale features a Pioneer Farm of 1840, a Horse Farm of 1900, and a modern farm. Inc. town, 1851; city, 1857. Pop. (1992 est.) city, 195,752; Des Moines MSA, 398,124.