A report on a period in the history of Des Moines that saw a population growth from 22,500 to 125,000 people, new forms of public transportation, suburban expansion and local government reforms. Six associated historic contexts covering the years from 1880 to 1920 are examined in detail in the original report: streetcars and interurbans; laissez faire and suburban development; the annexation movement and municipal government; the towns of Capital Park, Greenwood Park, Sevastopol and University Place; and the city of North Des Moines. A 1997 amendment to the report provides 3 additional historic contexts covering the period from 1880-1937: North Des Moines; Prospect Park; and architectural resources of North Des Moines.