Des Moines, Polk County, Iowa, USA

Des Moines is Iowa’s capital and largest city, located near the center of the state where the Raccoon and Des Moines rivers meet. Its downtown contains the State Capitol and anchors a metropolitan area extending across several central Iowa counties. The city grew after becoming the capital in 1857 and developed as a center for state government, insurance and finance. Residential neighborhoods extend outward from the river valleys and downtown business district. Parks and trails along the waterways connect parts of the urban landscape with the surrounding region.