Des Moines

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Des Moines

The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition | 2008 | The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition. Copyright 2008 Columbia University Press. (Hide copyright information) Copyright

Des Moines , city (1990 pop. 193,187), state capital and seat of Polk co., S central Iowa, at the junction of the Des Moines and Raccoon rivers; inc. as Fort Des Moines in 1851, chartered as Des Moines in 1857. Iowa's largest city, it is an industrial, transportation, cultural, and governmental center in the heart of the Feed Grains and Livestock Belt. Printing and publishing, agricultural processing, and the manufacture of transportation equipment, machinery, metal and plastic products, textiles, and apparel are among its industries. The city is also home to many insurance and other financial services companies.

Settled by homesteaders, Des Moines became the capital of Iowa in 1857. It is the seat of Drake Univ., the College of Osteopathic Medicine and Surgery, and Grand View College, among other educational institutions. Places of interest include the capitol (1871-84); the Des Moines Art Center; the Center of Science and Industry; the Iowa Museum of Agriculture; the Des Moines Central Library; and the state fairgrounds. The city suffered several floods in the 1950s, and despite flood control measures constructed on the Des Moines River, was again inundated in 1993.

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Des Moines

World Encyclopedia | 2005 | © World Encyclopedia 2005, originally published by Oxford University Press 2005. (Hide copyright information) Copyright

Des Moines Capital and largest city of Iowa state, USA, near the confluence of the Des Moines and Raccoon rivers. Founded in 1843, it is now an industrial and transport centre for the Corn Belt. Industries: mechanical and aerospace engineering, chemicals. Pop. (2000) 198,682.

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Des Moines

Concise Dictionary of World Place-Names | 2005 | | © Concise Dictionary of World Place-Names 2005, originally published by Oxford University Press 2005. (Hide copyright information) Copyright

Des Moines, USA There are three towns with this name, the one in Iowa being the most important. It was founded in 1843 as a fort to protect Native American rights. The origin of the name is not clear. It may be derived from a Native American word mikonang ‘road’ which became Moingona as the local name for the river on which the city lies. The French may have shortened this to moin; conveniently, after some French monks had settled here, the river came to be called Rivière des Moines ‘River of Monks’. The name, however, probably comes from the French de moyen ‘middle’, indicating that it was halfway between the Missouri and Mississippi Rivers.

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JOHN EVERETT-HEATH. "Des Moines." Concise Dictionary of World Place-Names. Oxford University Press. 2005. Encyclopedia.com. 10 Dec. 2009 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

JOHN EVERETT-HEATH. "Des Moines." Concise Dictionary of World Place-Names. Oxford University Press. 2005. Encyclopedia.com. (December 10, 2009). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O209-DesMoines.html

JOHN EVERETT-HEATH. "Des Moines." Concise Dictionary of World Place-Names. Oxford University Press. 2005. Retrieved December 10, 2009 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O209-DesMoines.html

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Des Moines University Welcomes
News Wire article from: Targeted News Service; 11/24/2008; 700+ words ; Des Moines University issued the following news release: Over the last few months, Des Moines University welcomed the following faculty...Amy Russell of Grimes recently joined Des Moines University as a program assistant with...
Des Moines responds to San Francisco Examiner ads.
PR Newswire; 11/18/1986; 700+ words ; ...F % TO BUSINESS AND CITY DESKS: DES MOINES RESPONDS TO SAN FRANCISCO EXAMINER AD DES MOINES, Iowa, Nov. 18 /PRNewswire...city believed was a direct slap at Des Moines, a group of civic leaders today...
Des Moines Partnership Challenges Americans to 'Change Their View!' of Des Moines.
PR Newswire; 10/3/2000; 700+ words ; DES MOINES, Iowa, Oct. 3 /PRNewswire/ -- It...b ) To differentiate itself, Greater Des Moines, Iowa, Tuesday launched a national advertising...entitled, "Change Your View." The Greater Des Moines Partnership, which is the economic and...
Des Moines found few changes after Proffitt's arrived City's worries after purchase of Younkers were similar to Milwaukee's
Newspaper article from: The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel; 11/10/1997; ; 700+ words ; For civic leaders in Des Moines two years ago, Proffitt's purchase...nearly two years after the sale, Des Moines has a message for Milwaukee after...Financial Group and co-chairman of Des Moines' Downtown Partnership. But doubts...
Des Moines Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure, Along With Elizabeth Edwards and Other Breast Cancer Survivors and Activists, Calls for Action on Breast Cancer
Newspaper article from: U.S. Newswire; 8/16/2007; 700+ words ; ...for Susan G. Komen for the Cure DES MOINES, Iowa, Aug. 16 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Des Moines Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for...the Komen Community Challenge. The Des Moines Komen Community Challenge events...
Des Moines: a 'new age community.' (Des Moines, Iowa)
Newspaper article from: Nation's Cities Weekly; 8/3/1992; ; 700+ words ; ...the new style American city," Des Moines, Iowa is a prime example of successful...local governments and the Greater Des Moines Chamber of Commerce Federation are...the definition of cities," said Des Moines City Manager Cy Carney, during a...
Flooding Denies Des Moines of Water Supply
Transcript from: NPR All Things Considered; 7/13/1993; 700+ words ; ...water is safe to drink for 250,000 Des Moines residents. Bottled water is being...beer bottles with water to send to Des Moines. More than two inches of rain fell...by weekend downpours that made the Des Moines and Raccoon Rivers swell unexpectedly...
Fort Des Moines Memorial Park & Education Center to Open Summer 2004; Memorial Park and Museum Celebrates Black and WAAC Leadership Right Where it Began.
PR Newswire; 3/31/2004; 700+ words ; DES MOINES, Iowa, March 31 /PRNewswire/ -- A...its first visitors this summer. The Fort Des Moines Memorial Park & Education Center...acre park and museum has been built at in Des Moines at Fort Des Moines -- the site of the...
Competition evolves between Omaha, Des Moines art festivals.
Newspaper article from: Omaha World-Herald (Omaha, NE); 6/17/2007; 700+ words ; ...between arts festivals in Omaha and Des Moines gets a break this year. For 23 years...and collectors. Then, in 1998, Des Moines city officials pumped up their Art...their own large-scale event, the Des Moines Arts Festival. It was scheduled...
The rushing water could change Des Moines' future. (editorial from the Des Moines Register, Des Moines, Iowa)
Newspaper article from: Nation's Cities Weekly; 8/2/1993; 700+ words ; ...in the July 18, 1993 issue of the Des Moines Register and found its way to Nation...test began one week ago today for Des Moines, and the response leaves no doubt...the feverish effort to reclaim the Des Moines Water Works from the Raccoon River...

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