Des Moines City Guide

Des Moines is the state capital of Iowa and the seat of Polk County. It was founded in 1843, when Captain James Allen constructed a fort at the junction of the Des Moines and Raccoon Rivers. Allen originally wanted to name the garrison Fort Raccoon, but he was overruled by the U.S. War Department, who insisted on Fort Des Moines. As settlers flocked to the area, the community grew into a town and was incorporated as a city in 1851. In 1857, the city was made the capital of Iowa and it's name was shortened to Des Moines.

The origin of the name "Des Moines" is uncertain. The French des moines literally translates to "of the monks." Some people believe it refers to French Trappist monks who lived in huts at the mouth of the Des Moines River, while others think it could be referring to the Moingona natives of the area. Another theory is that Des Moines was corrupted from the French de moyen ("middle") because of its location between the Mississippi and Missouri rivers.