Living in Des Moines / Local Government

Living in Des Moines

Established in 1851 and originally called Fort Raccoon, the wonderful city of Des Moines is situated at the junction of the Des Moines and Raccoon rivers and houses the capital of Iowa. More than 77,000 people work in downtown Des Moines; this thriving city has been dubbed the third largest insurance capital in the world, and is also home to sizable financial services and publishing businesses. Des Moines has been called a great place to start a business.

An award winning place to live, Des Moines has been featured in Forbes Magazine and is considered one of the most livable and least expensive big cities. From amusement parks to zoos and museums to state fairs, Des Moines has diversions for everyone. Sculpture gardens, hiking trails, art and food festivals, and a delightful farmer's market draw visitors from across the state and beyond. Des Moines is a diverse, multi-faceted metropolitan area where the arts, theater, ballet, symphony and opera abound.

For sports enthusiasts Des Moines has four professional minor-league teams. The Iowa Barnstormers arena football team and the Iowa Energy basketball team both play at the Wells Fargo Arena, the Iowa Cubs baseball team plays at Principal Park and the Des Moines Menace soccer team takes the field at Valley Stadium.

Des Moines is rich in history, diverse in people and offers a charming environment to live and visit. Whether walking down the Principal Riverwalk, a recreational park district built along the banks of the Des Moines River, or taking in a festival, visitors and residents alike will find something special about Des Moines.

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