Des Moines is the capital and most populous city in the U.S. state of Iowa. Located as the county seat of Polk County, it serves as the center of a six-county metropolitan area that holds an estimated 750,000 residents, making it the largest metropolitan area situated entirely within Iowa.
The city was incorporated in 1851 as Fort Des Moines before being shortened to its current name in 1857. It is named after the Des Moines River, a name likely derived from the French "Rivière des Moines," which translates to "River of the Monks." According to the 2020 census, the city had a population of 214,133.