Des Moines, Iowa is the most heavily populated city within the State of Iowa and also serves as the capital. Portions of the city of Des Moines reaches in the Warren County, while the majority sits within Polk County. The city of Des Moines was officially incorporated as Fort Des Moines, in the 22nd of September, the year 1851. In 1857, the name was shortened to "Des Moines," and was named after the Des Moines River. This name may have been adopted from the French Rivière Des Moines, which translates literally to "River of the Monks." According to the census of 2010, the population of the city proper was around 203,400.
The city of Des Moines has become a key centre for publishing businesses, the insurance industry, and financial services. An article in Business Wire, has shown that Des Moines has been voted as the "number one spot for insurance companies in the USA." The city is the headquarters for the Meredith Corporation, the Principal Financial Group, Wellmark Blue Cross Blue Shield, Ruan Transportation and EMC Insurance Companies. Various particularly huge companies like ING Group, Wells Fargo, Pioneer Hi-Bred, Marsh, Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company and Monsanto have operations in or near the metro Des Moines region. The fact is, nearly 70 insurance companies have their head office and numerous regional offices within the district.
The city of Des Moines forms the economic core of the state of Iowa. Many jobs fall into the following areas like for instance manufacturing, agribusiness, the government, healthcare and retail and wholesale trade. The State of Iowa is among the main employers.
There are a lot of big name businesses in the manufacturing sector, including Amana Appliances, Rockwell Collins, Maytag and Pella. This industry has had a significant impact on the economy of the region.
The fiber optics telecommunications industry is rapidly growing within the Des Moines region. The city of Des Moines is likewise home to different companies which are actively involved in biotechnology research.
The city of Des Moines likewise serves as the states hub for culture, boasting a broad range of arts centers, performance events, museums and concerts. The Des Moines Arts Center houses a permanent collected works of major 19th, 20th and 21st century masterpieces within a contemporary building. The Arts Center Downtown is an extension of the center. It offers a variety of new and exciting exhibits featured in an urban-inspired setting. There are more than 50 artists within the state of Iowa featured in the Gortz Haus Gallery which is situated within a church made of stone.
There are many military attractions with the Iowa Gold Star Military Museum. It is a facility that honors individuals who have participated in wars and houses many artifacts from the Civil War to the present. The Des Moines Metro Opera provides outreach and educational programs. It is amongst the biggest organizations of its kind within Iowa.