West Des Moines, Iowa

Historic Valley Junction, West Des Moines
Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:HistoricValleyJunction.jpg
Author: Iowahwyman


West Des Moines is a city within the Des Moines metropolitan area. As noted in its name, it is located to the west of Des Moines. It is the second most populous city in the metropolitan area and the 10th most populous in Iowa. The city covers 27.6 sq mi (71.4 sq km) and has a population of 54,000 people (2011 estimate). Today it is also one of the most affluent suburbs of Des Moines.

The area around West Des Moines was traditionally the settled by the Sac and Fox tribes until they were ousted with a gunshot at midnight on 11 October 1845, by cattle farmer James Cunningham Jordan, who then became the first settler there. His house is still standing, and is now used as the premises of the West Des Moines Historical Society.

On 9 October 1893, West Des Moines was incorporated, as the city of Valley Junction. It took on the present name of West Des Moines on 1 January, 1938. The city experienced tremendous growth in the 1990s and 2000s, expanding to include Dallas County.

West Des Moines experiences a humid continental climate. July is the warmest month, with average high temperature of 86°F (30°C). Coldest month is January, when the average low temperature drops to 12°F (-11°C). June is the wettest month with 4.57 in (116.1 mm) of rainfall.

Visiting West Des Moines

West Des Moines is on Interstate 235 to the west of Des Moines.

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