Des Moines

History

In 1887-88, the Colorado and Southern Railroad built a line and established a station they named Des Moines after Des Moines, Iowa. The St. Louis, Rocky Mountain & Pacific Railway arrived in 1907. A post office has been in operation since 1906. In 1907, two settlement sites were surveyed. One retained the name Des Moines, and the other Saavedra after its founder. Initially, Saavedra was the more populous of the two places; however, the combined settlement was called Des Moines. Des Moines initially consisted mostly of hastily constructed shacks. The maximum population of 800 was reached in 1920, but drought and the Great Depression caused a quick decline.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the village has a total area of , all land. The summit of Sierra Grande, elevation (the largest shield volcano in the Raton-Clayton Volcanic Field) is southwest of the village. Twin Mountain, in elevation and north of Des Moines, is also volcanic in origin and has been a source of construction material.

Race & ethnicity

Most-observed species

• Common Raven

  Corvus corax Linnaeus, 1758 · Aves
  271
• Spotted Towhee

  Pipilo maculatus Swainson, 1827 · Aves
  203
• Turkey Vulture

  Cathartes aura (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  165
• Western Meadowlark

  Sturnella neglecta Audubon, 1844 · Aves
  126
• Woodhouse's Scrub-Jay

  Aphelocoma woodhouseii (S.F.Baird, 1858) · Aves
  115
• American Robin

  Turdus migratorius Linnaeus, 1766 · Aves
  114
• Chipping Sparrow

  Spizella passerina (Bechstein, 1798) · Aves
  111
• Western Kingbird

  Tyrannus verticalis Say, 1823 · Aves
  105

Largest nearby schools

• DES MOINES ELEMENTARY
  Elementary · DES MOINES · 69 students · 8.6:1 ratio
• DES MOINES HIGH
  High · DES MOINES · 51 students · 8.5:1 ratio