Des Moines, Iowa

A winter morning in Des Moines as seen from the river in 2016.

Des Moines, Iowa is the capital and the most populous city in the U.S. state of Iowa. Des Moines is located on, and named after, the Des Moines River. Des Moines is a major center of the US insurance industry and has a sizable financial services and publishing business base. In 2020, city population was 214,133, with the greater metropolitan area having 699,292 residents.

Des Moines is the county seat of Polk County, although a small part of the city extends into Warren County.

Des Moines was incorporated on September 22, 1851, as "Fort Des Moines", which was shortened to "Des Moines" in 1857.

Des Moines is the center for the Iowa caucuses which typically kick off the U.S. presidential primary election cycle.