Beaverdale (Des Moines) facts for kids

Beaverdale is a big neighborhood in Des Moines, Iowa, USA. It's one of the largest of 51 neighborhoods in the city. Beaverdale stretches from Forest Avenue in the south all the way to the city limits in the north.

Beaverdale's History

Long ago, in the 1800s, Beaverdale was a rural area on the western edge of Des Moines. It had big farms with fruit trees and vegetables. People traveled through the area on an unpaved road called the Fort Dodge Stage Road. This road was used by stagecoaches even before the Civil War.

In 1903, the road was renamed Beaver Avenue. Then, in 1917, it was improved with brick paving. For a while, this whole part of Des Moines was known as "Urbandale." But in 1917, a nearby town officially took the name Urbandale. So, the people living in this area met and chose "Beaverdale" as their neighborhood's new name.

Building Homes in Beaverdale

Most of the homes in Beaverdale were built between 1920 and 1940. This was a time when cars were becoming very common for families. A lot of building happened after the tough economic times of the 1930s. The government helped people buy homes by creating new mortgage plans.

Local builders used many traditional home designs. They also added the newest electrical features into their plans. In 1938, a local builder named E.T. McMurray started building the famous "Beaverdale Brick" homes. These houses were very popular. Most of the streets in Beaverdale were laid out in a simple grid pattern, which was common in cities across the Midwest. However, two areas, Maryland Park and Ashby Manor, were different. They had winding roads and special designs that made the homes look unique and attractive.

In 2017, the Beaverdale neighborhood celebrated its 100th birthday! To mark this special event, a long mural was painted on a building at 2714 Beaver Ave. It's 116 feet long!

Fun Things to Do in Beaverdale

Beaverdale is in a great spot for fun activities. It's only 10 minutes from downtown Des Moines. You can also get to Drake University and the Varsity Theater in just five minutes. If you like shopping, Merle Hay Mall is five minutes away, and Valley West Mall is about 10 minutes away.

The Beaverdale Neighborhood Association organizes many events throughout the year. They have an Easter egg hunt in the spring. In the summer, there's a music festival. And in the winter, they hold a holiday lights contest. The big Beaverdale Fall Festival parade happens every year on the third weekend in September.

Most students living in Beaverdale go to either Hoover High School or Roosevelt High School.

Parks and Outdoor Fun

Beaverdale has over 50 acres of public parkland. This means there are lots of places to play and enjoy outdoor activities!

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