As the capital and the most densely populated city in Iowa, Des Moines is situated in Polk County, partly extending into Warren County. The city was incorporated on September 22, 1851, originally named Fort Des Moines before being abbreviated to "Des Moines" in 1857.

Deriving its name from the Des Moines River, the city's moniker is believed to have originated from the French phrase "Rivière des Moines," meaning "River of the Monks." The metropolitan region, which spans six counties, has a population of 699,292 residents, according to the United States Census Bureau's 2019 estimate, ranking it 83rd in the country. It is the most populous metropolitan area situated solely within the state.

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