Locations

The Des Moines, IA Area

Des Moines, IA

Named “One of the 50 Sweetest Spots in America” by Hershey Foods, Des Moines ranks fourth in the nation out of 1,000 entries. Selection criteria included per capita spending on fun and recreational activities.
Meredith Corporation, one of the largest magazine publishers in the nation, is headquartered in Des Moines, and publishes Better Homes and Gardens, Ladies’ Home Journal and many others.
Des Moines, which is Iowa’s largest city, was ranked by Men’s Health in the top 15 of “Happiest Cities in America” (2005).
In 2006, the Des Moines metropolitan area was ranked eleventh by Forbes magazine as one of the “Best Places for Business and Careers.”
Kiplinger’s Personal Finance magazine named Des Moines as one of the five best cities in the nation to live for people who are married with children.
Des Moines hosts The Register’s Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa. The seven–day event attracts 10,000 riders from across the nation and is the oldest, largest and longest multi–day bicycle ride in the United States.
Iowa ranks ninth in the nation for number of state parks, recreational areas and natural areas.

Johnston is one of the fastest–growing communities in Iowa.
In the Johnston Community School District, 78% of high school seniors scored 20.0 or higher on the ACT test and 90% of the class planned to pursue post–secondary education.

CNN/Money magazine recently named Urbandale as one of the top 100 places to live in America.
Urbandale is located on the northwest border of Des Moines, has 424 acres of parkland and is connected to the trail system of surrounding communities.