West Des Moines, IA

Thursday evenings in Historic Valley Junction bring the community together along Fifth Street. From May through September, the weekly farmers market fills the brick-lined corridor with local produce, food trucks, and makers, rolling straight into live music under the pavilion at Railroad Park. It is the original heart of West Des Moines, founded in the 1890s as a bustling rail depot where workers laid the groundwork for the town. While the trains have long since moved on and the town changed its name, the neighborhood kept its historic character, with century-old storefronts now home to independent boutiques, art galleries, and neighborhood bistros.

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Over the decades, the city's footprint expanded westward toward the intersection of Interstates 35 and 80. While Valley Junction retains its cozy, small-town atmosphere, the newer western corridors along Mills Civic Parkway and Jordan Creek Parkway bring modern conveniences and master-planned neighborhoods. Here you will find the public library, city offices, and Jordan Creek Town Center, the metro's premier shopping and dining district. The city now stretches across parts of four counties, offering residents a convenient balance of quiet suburban neighborhoods and fast commutes across Greater Des Moines.

ATTRTyler Silvest / CC BY 2.0

When it comes to careers, West Des Moines is a regional powerhouse for finance and insurance. Major corporate campuses for Athene, Sammons Financial, Wells Fargo, and Farm Bureau Financial anchor the local economy, attracting professionals from across the country. Midwestern retail staple Hy-Vee is also based here, while healthcare organizations like The Iowa Clinic, UnityPoint, and MercyOne provide extensive medical facilities. That steady corporate presence provides thousands of high-paying jobs close to home, fueling continuous community investment and strong public amenities.

ATTRTyler Silvest / CC BY 2.0

On the outdoor front, Raccoon River Park serves as the city's premier recreational hub. The 631-acre park centers on Blue Heron Lake, featuring a swimming beach, seasonal kayak and paddleboard rentals, an inclusive playground, and a bustling dog park. A 3.2-mile paved trail loops the entire lake, making it a favorite spot for morning runs and weekend bike rides. With the addition of the Athene Pedestrian Bridge across the Raccoon River, trail users can stroll or cycle straight into the shaded canopy of Walnut Woods State Park without ever dodging street traffic.