What is the capital of Iowa?

The capital of Iowa is Des Moines.

Des Moines is Iowa’s capital and most populous city. It stands near the geographic center of the state at the junction of the Des Moines and Raccoon rivers, a location that supported transportation, trade, and government. Today, the city is also known for insurance, finance, publishing, and its role as a regional business center.

The community began as Fort Des Moines in 1843, when the U.S. Army established a fort near the Des Moines River. Iowa’s legislature designated the settlement as the state capital in 1857, the same year its name was shortened to Des Moines. The city was incorporated in 1851 and grew rapidly as railroads connected central Iowa with markets elsewhere.

The name comes from the Des Moines River and is generally linked to the French Rivière des Moines, or “River of the Monks.” A common mix-up is selecting Cedar Rapids, another prominent Iowa city; Cedar Rapids is not the capital. Des Moines is also the county seat of Polk County, with part of the city extending into Warren County.