5 Facts About Iowa's Capital: How Well Do You Know Des Moines?

At 203,433, Des Moines is the most populous city in Iowa. Here are five facts about Des Moines that may surprise you whether or not you live in the Hawkeye State.

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1. National Leader in Job Growth

Since the Great Recession began in 2007, Iowa’s capital city has been one of the nation’s leader in job creation, the Des Moines Register reported in 2014. Nonfarm job growth in the Des Moines metropolitan area increased by 5.9 percent. By comparison, job creation expanded in Iowa by just 1.5 percent and in the U.S. by a mere 1.2 percent. Des Moines is Iowa’s hub for business activity in Iowa thanks to business costs that are below the national average, the city’s website said. Forbes recently ranked Des Moines as the No. 2 city in America for job opportunities in a January 2015 report.

2. Large Metro Area

Although the population of Des Moines is officially 203,433, the Des Moines metropolitan area is actually home to 569,633 people, the city’s website said. Des Moines’ metro area includes West Des Moines (56,609), Ankeny (45,582) and Urbandale (39,463), according to the Quad City Times.

3. Downtown Farmers Market

Des Moines hosts one of the country’s largest farmers markets on Saturdays in downtown Des Moines, a city website said. Each weekend, close to 20,000 visitors descend on over 300 vendors who sell produce from across Iowa and nearby states.

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4. Des Moines River

Des Moines is named after Fort Des Moines, a military post that the U.S. War Department established along the Des Moines River in the 1840s.

5. Des Moines’ Founding

Des Moines was officially incorporated as a town on September 22, 1851, as Fort Des Moines. The next month, the town held its first election, and 25 residents voted to approve the town charter and elect eight city councilmen. The town’s name was abbreviated to Des Moines in 1857. That same year, Des Moines was named Iowa’s state capital, the city’s website said.

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