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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.

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News from The Des Moines Register

Metro Communities

Nov 22, 2008 5:28 am

CLIVE

Hansen: Radio host Deace rips Gross on direction of GOP

Nov 22, 2008 5:28 am

We’ve been hearing a lot lately how the Republican Party is in disarray. But I never realized the depth of the disarray until I heard Steve Deace attacking fellow Republican Doug Gross on WHO...

Iowa Guard top post goes to Col. Orr, chief of staff

Nov 22, 2008 5:20 am

Col. Tim Orr, an Iowa native with 29 years of military experience, was appointed by Gov. Chet Culver on Friday as the top general in the 9,400-member Iowa National Guard.

Toddler back with refugee family after wandering outside in D.M.

Nov 22, 2008 5:19 am

Temperatures were barely in double digits Friday morning when the little girl was found, wandering in the 900 block of Franklin Avenue with no coat and one shoe.

Mari Culver requests ticket for smoking

Nov 22, 2008 5:18 am

Iowa’s first lady requested and received a $50 ticket Friday for illegally smoking in a state-owned vehicle.

Harl: Standard of living might drop for a while

Nov 22, 2008 5:17 am

The nation’s economic meltdown may be more than a traditional recession and could shift the nation’s standard of living to "a lower plateau" that will endure, prominent Iow...

Ex-managers at plant may have fled, officials say

Nov 22, 2008 5:16 am

Federal agents bearing a fresh indictment arrested one Agriprocessors Inc. supervisor Friday, but officials said they suspect that two others have fled to Israel.

Deficit may force D.M. to lay off 90 employees

Nov 22, 2008 5:15 am

A projected budget deficit of between $6 million and $9 million could force Des Moines city leaders to cut 90 jobs and look for ways to privatize some services, City Manager Rick Clark confirmed Frida...

Riverboat begins a new life

Nov 22, 2008 5:10 am

A mini-drama aboard a born-again riverboat was put to rest Friday afternoon when Des Moines Mayor Frank Cownie took matters in hand.

Medical regulators warn 2 Iowa men

Nov 22, 2008 5:09 am

State medical regulators have sent stern letters to two men, accusing them of practicing medicine without a license.

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