Des moines is in Union County, and in the Northeast New Mexico region. Des Moines is located on US Hwy 64 east of Capulin.
Des Moines is located near the Capulin Mountain, an 8,215 foot volcanic cone from where one can see five states. First settled by the Colorado and Southern Railroad, Des Moines is a ranching community working to restore its historic downtown. It was the setting for the fictional town of Hi Lo, in the novel, movie and TV series The Rounders.