Des Moines IA Moving Companies

Des Moines, Iowa

Kiplinger's recently rated Des Moines, Iowa at number nine in its list of the 200 best American cities to live in. What makes moving to Des Moines such a great idea? It helps to have top-rated public schools and a friendly, hometown atmosphere, but that’s not the only reason why so many people are relocating to Des Moines. The city also has a thriving arts scene, including a symphony, a ballet company, an opera troupe and several art galleries.

What else keeps Des Moines moving companies busy? Sports enthusiasts love the opportunities for outdoor adventure. The city offers trails for bicycling and hiking, lakes for boating and fishing, an annual arts festival and the annual Iowa State Fair. (If you visit the State Fair, be sure to see the traditional sculpture made from 600 pounds of Iowa-made butter.)

Economy:
Des Moines, Iowa has been synonymous with the insurance industry for several decades; more than 160 insurance companies have their headquarters or regional offices there. In fact, more than a quarter of the economy is based on services, including the health care and biotechnology industries. Manufacturing is also important to the local economy; Pella windows, Rockwell Collins avionics technologies and Maytag appliances are all built in Des Moines. Other goods produced in Des Moines include bricks, food products, paint, elevators, cosmetics, agricultural tools and furnaces.

History:
In 1834, an Indian Agent from Fort Leavenworth named John Dougherty recommended that the U.S. military establish a post at the junction of the Raccoon River and the Des Moines River. Nine years later, a company of dragoons led by Captain James Allen moved cross-country to establish a fort. Although Captain Allen wanted to name the site Raccoon Fort, the U.S. War Department ordered him to name it Fort Des Moines.

The new town was incorporated in 1851. In 1857, the town’s name was shortened from Fort Des Moines to Des Moines, and it was designated as the capital of Iowa. The new capital continued to expand rapidly until the beginning of World War I in 1914, when its growth slowed as the country prepared for war. The U.S. government established Camp Dodge in Des Moines to help with the war effort, and more than 100,000 Iowans were trained as soldiers. Des Moines lost many young men to the war, and the food shortages of the ensuing Great Depression drove many more to enlist in World War II. After the wars, the town recovered quickly, and many businesses prospered. It was in this period that Des Moines became a center of operations for prominent insurance companies.

Tourism:
No visit to a state capital is complete without a visit to its capitol building, and Des Moines is home to a particularly fine example, complete with a dome plated in 14K gold. From there you can hop the free “D Line” trolley bus, which runs through the downtown corridor and stops at the Civic Center, the Temple for the Performing Arts and several fine hotels. The shuttle also stops at the John and Mary Pappajohn Sculpture Park, which has fine collection of outdoor sculptures which were donated by two well-known local philanthropists.
Des Moines welcomes visitors year-round. When it’s too cold to take the bus, explore their four-mile Skyway, which is an indoor walking path that winds through the entire downtown area. It connects retail shopping establishments, restaurants and entertainment centers to make Des Moines enjoyable no matter what the weather is outdoors.

Colleges/Universities:

• Drake University
• Grand View University
• Upper Iowa University
• William Penn University
• Simpson College

Interesting Facts:

• The city of Des Moines encompasses 75-square-miles.
• Des Moines city leaders recently unearthed a century-old time capsule that had been placed in the cornerstone of the Municipal City Hall. The capsule contained old documents and newspapers, as well as a valuable penny minted in 1909.
• Rock star Ozzy Osbourne famously bit the head off of a live bat onstage in Des Moines in 1982.