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Here’s my question:

Why is Des Moines pronounced Des Moines but Des Plaines Illinois is pronounced Des Plaines? Seems the French pronunciation is optional.

Title?

I liked Iowa when I lived there. Bill Bryson comes from Des Moines, so he's entitled to bag on his home town as much as he likes, but frankly, I've read Bryson (not this book, though), and I'm not terribly impressed. But that's just like my opinion, man.