West Des Moines

The landscape around West Des Moines is gently rolling former prairie, crossed by the Raccoon River and smaller tributaries, which has shaped both the urban form and local economy. Part of the Des Moines metropolitan area, the city has grown from a railroad settlement at Valley Junction into a major suburban business centre. Historic Valley Junction preserves the original commercial district, where early-20th-century storefronts now house independent shops and restaurants. Raccoon River Park adds trails and open space to a city otherwise defined by neighbourhoods, offices and retail corridors. See how West Des Moines connects with central Iowa by browsing webcams nearby.

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