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Des Moines County, Iowa facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts
Not to be confused with Des Moines, Iowa or Polk County, Iowa, the county in which the city of Des Moines is primarily located.
Quick facts for kids
Des Moines County
U.S. county
Des Moines County Courthouse
Des Moines County Courthouse
Map of Iowa highlighting Des Moines County
Location within the U.S. state of Iowa
Map of the United States highlighting Iowa
Iowa's location within the U.S.
Country  United States
State  Iowa
Founded 1834
Named for Des Moines River
Seat Burlington
Largest city Burlington
Area
 • Total 430 sq mi (1,100 km2)
 • Land 416 sq mi (1,080 km2)
 • Water 14 sq mi (40 km2)  3.2%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total 38,910
 • Estimate 
(2023)
 38,253 Decrease
 • Density 90.5/sq mi (34.9/km2)
Time zone UTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST) UTC−5 (CDT)
Area code 319
Congressional district 1st

Des Moines County is a county in the state of Iowa, USA. It is located in the southeastern part of Iowa. The county is home to about 38,910 people, based on the 2020 census.

The main city and county seat is Burlington. This means Burlington is where the county government offices are. Des Moines County was one of the first two counties created in Iowa in 1834.

It's important not to confuse Des Moines County with the city of Des Moines. The city of Des Moines is the capital of Iowa. It is located in Polk County, which is in central Iowa. Des Moines County is on Iowa's eastern border, right next to the Mississippi River. Both the county and the city got their names from the Des Moines River.

History of Des Moines County

Des Moines County has a long and interesting history. In September 1834, the area that is now Iowa was part of the Michigan Territory. Lawmakers decided to divide this land into two counties. One was called Dubuque County, and the other was called Demoine County. This county was named after the Des Moines River.

From 1836 to 1838, Des Moines County was part of the Wisconsin Territory. After that, on July 4, 1838, it became part of the new Iowa Territory. Later, Iowa became a state.

The building used today as the Des Moines County Court House was finished in 1940. Also in 1940, the Iowa Army Ammunition Plant was built. This plant helps make things for the U.S. Army.

Geography of Des Moines County

Burlington, Iowa Riverfront at Night
The U.S. Highway 34 bridge over the Mississippi River in Burlington

Des Moines County covers about 430 square miles. Most of this area is land, about 416 square miles. The rest, about 14 square miles, is water.

The mighty Mississippi River forms the eastern border of the county. The Skunk River forms the southern border. Smaller streams like Flint Creek also flow through the county.

Main Roads

  • US 34.svg U.S. Highway 34
  • US 61.svg U.S. Highway 61

Public Transportation

  • Burlington station: This is a train station.
  • Burlington Urban Service: This is a local bus service.

Airport

The Southeast Iowa Regional Airport (airport code BRL) is located near Burlington. It helps people travel by air.

Neighboring Counties

Des Moines County shares its borders with several other counties:

People of Des Moines County (Demographics)

DesMoinesCountyIowaPop2020
Population of Des Moines County from US census data

Demographics is the study of people in a certain area. It looks at things like how many people live there and what their backgrounds are.

2020 Census Information

In 2020, the census counted 38,910 people living in Des Moines County. This means there were about 92 people per square mile. Most people (about 94%) said they belonged to one race.

Here's a quick look at the different groups of people in Des Moines County in 2020:

Des Moines County Racial Composition
Race Number of People Percentage
White (not Hispanic) 32,753 84.2%
Black or African American (not Hispanic) 2,501 6.43%
Native American (not Hispanic) 67 0.2%
Asian (not Hispanic) 398 1.02%
Pacific Islander (not Hispanic) 21 0.05%
Other/Mixed (not Hispanic) 1,925 5%
Hispanic or Latino 1,245 3.2%

Communities in Des Moines County

Des Moines County has several cities and smaller communities.

Cities

Census-Designated Places (CDPs)

These are areas that look like towns but are not officially cities.

Other Small Communities

Townships

Counties in Iowa are divided into smaller areas called townships. Here are the townships in Des Moines County:

  • Benton
  • Concordia
  • Danville
  • Flint River
  • Franklin
  • Huron
  • Jackson
  • Pleasant Grove
  • Tama
  • Union
  • Washington
  • Yellow Springs

Community Sizes (2020 Census)

This table shows how many people live in the main communities of Des Moines County, based on the 2020 census.

† county seat (the main city of the county)

Rank City/Town/etc. Type Population (2020 Census)
1 † Burlington City 23,982
2 West Burlington City 3,197
3 Mediapolis City 1,688
4 Beaverdale CDP 880
5 Danville City 927
6 Middletown City 363

Images for kids

  • DesMoinesCountyIA2022PopPyr

    Population pyramid for Des Moines County in 2022

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Condado de Des Moines para niños

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Des Moines County, Iowa Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.