YOUR KEY TO THE CITY
US Facts 
Footsteps of History 
It Happened Here 
Mottos, Slogans and Nicknames 
Noted Notables
Welcome To KEY TO THE CITY's Page For
Des Moines
Polk County, Iowa
ZipCodes
50301 - 50321, 50328 - 50336, 50338, 50339, 50340, 50347, 50350, 50359, 50360, 50361, 50362, 50363, 50364, 50367, 50368, 50369, 50380, 50381, 50391, 50392, 50393, 50394, 50395, 50396, 50397, 50940, 50947, 50950, 50980, 50981
History & History-related items
Chamber of Commerce.
Organizations, Churches, and Sports.
Originally known as Fort Raccoon, a military garrison in 1843, it was built at the fork of the Raccoon and Des Moines Rivers. It could have kept the name, but the War Department didn't thought it was in bad taste and changed the name to Fort Des Moines. This name was taken from the French voyageurs who called the river, La Riviere des Moinesk or River of the Monks.
The state capital was moved here in 1857. The rapid growth of the area due to the gold rush travelers who decided to stay put rather than face the rigors of the trail. Because of this growth, the area grew in prominance, prompting the move of the state capital.
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See our Des Moines Attractions page.
World Food Festival
held each year in late September
NOTED NOTABLES
home town of Chloris Leachman, Actress
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Economy & Industry
Though agriculture remains a major part of the economy, there are many factories here. Many of the factories are related to agriculture in some way, such as tractors, drills, cotton pickers, etc.
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City of Des Moines
400 Robert D. Ray Drive
Des Moines, IA 50309
Phone: 515-283-4500
Kingsway Christian College
3707 SW 9th St
Des Moines, IA 50315-3047
Phone: 515-288-2852
Des Moines Miscellany
The population of Des Moines was:
1860 - 3,965
1870 - 12,035
1880 - 22,408
1890 - 50,093
1900 - 62,139
1910 - 86,368
1920 - 126,468
1930 - 142,559
1940 - 159,819
1950 - 177,965
1960 - 208,982
1970 - 200,587
1980 - 191,003
1990 - 193,187
2000 - 198,682
2010 - 203.433
Number of Housing Units:
1990 - 83,289
2000 - 85,067
Per Capita Income:
2000 - $ 19,467
2009 - $ 23,545
Median House Value:
2000 - $ 79,900
2009 - $ 120,300
Des Moines is located in the central time zone and does participate in daylight savings time during a portion of the year.
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