Iowa

Des Moines

38,910
2020 population
1840
first census record
19
census records

About Des Moines

Des Moines, Iowa, first appears in the United States federal census in 1840, when it recorded a population of 5,577. At the most recent census, in 2020, its population stood at 38,910.

Its recorded population peaked at 46,982 in 1970, and has since declined by roughly 17 percent.

On the ground today, 34 places are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Population by decade

Census YearPopulationChart
202038,910
201040,325
200042,351
199042,614
198046,203
197046,982
196044,605
195042,056
194036,804
193038,162
192035,520
191036,145
190035,989
189035,324
188033,099
187027,256
186019,611
185012,988
18405,577
Source

Population data from the United States decennial census, U.S. Census Bureau (public domain).

Historic places in Des Moines

National Register of Historic Places listings in Des Moines, Iowa.

The Capitol Theater
Burlington
Des Moines County Court House
Burlington
Church of St. John the Baptist
Burlington
Melcher, Dennis Melcher, Pottery and House
Danville
Crapo Park and Arboretum Historic District
Burlington
Hawkeye Creek Bridge
Mediapolis
Cascade Bridge
Burlington
Schramm Building
Burlington
Dodge, Augustus Caesar, House
Burlington
Manufacturing and Wholesale Historic District
Burlington
Snake Alley Historic District
Burlington
Burlington and Missouri River Railroad Passenger Station
Burlington
Lagomarcino-Grupe Company
Burlington
Downtown Commercial Historic District
Burlington
Baptist Church
Sperry
Snake Alley
Burlington
Starker-Leopold Historic District
Burlington
German Methodist Episcopal Church
Burlington
West Jefferson Street Historic District
Burlington
Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Station
Burlington
Prairie Grove School
W. Burlington
White, Abiathar and Nancy, House
Burlington
Heritage Hill Historic District
Burlington
Hedge Block
Burlington
Browse all Iowahistoric sites ›

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Everything a full report reveals about Des Moines County, Iowa

This page charts the census history of Des Moines County, Iowa. A full Aubrey report for an address here pulls together everything the historical record holds about the ground, from the earliest settlement to the twentieth century:

Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
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Frequently asked about Des Moines

When does Des Moines first appear in the US census?
Des Moines, Iowa first appears in the federal census in 1840, with a recorded population of 5,577.
What is the population of Des Moines?
At the most recent federal census (2020), Des Moines had a recorded population of 38,910.
When did Des Moines's population peak?
Des Moines's recorded population peaked at 46,982 in 1970.
How many historic places are in Des Moines?
34 sites are listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Des Moines, Iowa.
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