West Des Moines, Iowa

About West Des Moines

West Des Moines is a thriving city in southern Iowa with an estimated population of 73,664. It ranks as the 7th largest city in Iowa.

Officially, West Des Moines is an incorporated city with its own municipal government. The community covers 47.49 square miles, giving it a balanced suburban layout with room to breathe at roughly 1,551 residents per square mile.

📰 West Des Moines News Today

• West Des Moines partners with Casey's for new ice rink at the RecPlex KCCI · Aug 17
• Check out our favorite photos from Day 6 of the 2026 Iowa State Fair The Des Moines Register · Aug 18
• Casey’s buys naming rights for MidAmerican Energy RecPlex expansion WHO13.com · Aug 18
• Casey's commits $1M to City of West Des Moines Events Center, secures naming rights to ice rink weareiowa.com · Aug 17
• 1550 S Kings Grove Ave, West Des Moines, IA 50266 Realtor.com · Aug 16

Live headlines via Google News — updates through the day.

What Makes West Des Moines Unique

• A top-25 city in Iowa by population (#7 of 940 incorporated places).
• The only place in America named West Des Moines — a truly one-of-a-kind name among 32,000+ US communities.
• Positioned in southern Iowa, convenient to the region's corridors and crossings.

Why People Love It Here

• The sweet spot: real amenities without big-city congestion.
• Local businesses and schools anchored by a stable resident base of 73,664.
• Well connected: 3+ neighboring communities within 6 miles.

📍 Neighborhoods in West Des Moines

Click a neighborhood to see it on the map.

🍽️ Where to Eat in West Des Moines

• Applebee's — american
• Banana Leaf Asian Bistro — asian
• Blaze Pizza — pizza
• Blu Toro Cantina & Grill — mexican
• Buffalo Wild Wings — wings
• China Jade — chinese
• Coach's Pizza — pizza
• Dave & Buster's — american
• Fire Creek — american
• Firebirds Wood Fired Grill — steak house

Local spots mapped by the OpenStreetMap community.

🎡 Fun Things to Do

• Bennett School · Museum
• Blue Zoo · Aquarium
• Dave & Buster's

Attractions mapped by the OpenStreetMap community.

🏞️ Parks & Outdoors in West Des Moines

• Raccoon River Park reviews ★
• 50th Street Greenway reviews ★
• Ashawa Greenway reviews ★
• Ashawa Park reviews ★
• Brookview School Park reviews ★
• Huston Ridge Park reviews ★
• Jordan Creek Park reviews ★
• Kiwanis Park reviews ★
• Knolls Greenway reviews ★
• Knolls Park reviews ★
• Meadowview Park reviews ★
• Purple Martin Lake Water Resource Area · Nature reserve reviews ★

Parks mapped by the OpenStreetMap community · "reviews" opens each park's live Google reviews.

🏫 Schools in West Des Moines

• Brookview Elementary School
• Crossroads Park Elementary School
• Fairmeadows Elementary School
• Hillside Elementary School
• Jordan Creek Elementary School
• Learning Resource Center
• Maple Grove Elementary School
• Stilwell Junior High School
• Valley High School
• Valley Southwoods
• Walnut Creek Campus
• Western Hills Elementary School
• Westridge Elementary
• Woodland Hills Elementary School

Public schools, U.S. Dept. of Education (NCES) 2023–24 directory.

⚡ Quick Facts

🗺️ Map of West Des Moines

🏘️ Nearby Communities