Ames, Iowa facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Ames, Iowa
|
|
|---|---|
Clockwise from top: Main Street in downtown Ames, Iowa State University Alumni Hall, Marston Water Tower and Hoover Hall at ISU, Reiman Gardens, a train station in Ames, and Beardshear Hall
|
|
| Motto(s):
"Smart Choice"
|
|
Location in the State of Iowa
|
|
 Ames, Iowa
Location in Iowa
Ames, Iowa
Location in the United States
|
|
| Country |  United States |
| State |  Iowa |
| County | Story |
| Incorporated | 1864 |
| Area | |
| • City | 27.92 sq mi (72.32 km2) |
| • Land | 27.58 sq mi (71.43 km2) |
| • Water | 0.34 sq mi (0.89 km2) |
| Elevation | 942 ft (287 m) |
| Population
(2020)
|
|
| • City | 66,427 |
| • Rank | 9th in Iowa |
| • Density | 2,408.61/sq mi (929.96/km2) |
| • Urban | 60,438 |
| • Metro | 89,542 (estimate based on Story County) |
| Time zone | UTC−6 (CST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−5 (CDT) |
| ZIP code(s)™ |
50010, 50011-50013 (UNIQUE ZIP Codes™-for Iowa State University), 50014
|
| FIPS code | 19-01855 |
| GNIS feature ID | 0454167 |
Ames (/eɪmz/) is a city in Story County, Iowa, United States. It is about 30 miles (48 km) north of Des Moines in central Iowa. Ames is famous for being the home of Iowa State University (ISU).
In 2020, Ames had a population of 66,427 people. This makes it the ninth-largest city in Iowa. Iowa State University had over 30,000 students in Fall 2023. This means about half of the city's population are students!
Ames is also home to important government centers. The Ames Laboratory, a national science lab, is on the ISU campus. The city also hosts major United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) sites. These include the National Animal Disease Center (NADC), which is the largest federal animal disease center in the U.S. The Iowa Department of Transportation also has its main office here.
Contents
History of Ames
The city of Ames started in 1864. It was a stop on the Cedar Rapids and Missouri Railroad. The city was named after Oakes Ames, a U.S. Congressman. He helped build the first transcontinental railroad.
A local resident, Cynthia Olive Duff, and railroad leader John Insley Blair founded Ames. They chose a spot near the Skunk River and Ioway Creek. This was a good place for a railroad crossing. William West became the first mayor of Ames in 1870. He and his wife ran the city's first hotel, West House.
Where is Ames Located?
Ames is on the western side of Story County. It is about 30 miles (48 km) north of Des Moines. Major highways like Interstate 35 and U.S. Route 30 meet near Ames. U.S. Route 69 also goes through the city.
The city has a total area of about 24.27 square miles (62.86 km2). Most of this is land, with a small amount of water.
What is Campustown?
Campustown is a lively area right next to Iowa State University's Central Campus. It is south of Lincoln Way. This neighborhood has many student apartments, restaurants, and fun places. Many of these spots are special to Ames.
What is the Climate Like?
Ames has a humid continental climate. This means it has warm summers and cold winters. July is usually the warmest month, and January is the coldest.
The highest temperature ever recorded in Ames was 109°F (43°C) on July 24, 1901. The lowest was -37°F (-38°C) on January 25, 1894.
| Climate data for Ames, Iowa (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1893–present) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °F (°C) | 67 (19) |
76 (24) |
90 (32) |
97 (36) |
104 (40) |
104 (40) |
109 (43) |
107 (42) |
102 (39) |
95 (35) |
81 (27) |
73 (23) |
102 (39) |
| Mean maximum °F (°C) | 48.1 (8.9) |
53.3 (11.8) |
70.9 (21.6) |
82.5 (28.1) |
88.4 (31.3) |
91.5 (33.1) |
92.5 (33.6) |
90.9 (32.7) |
89.0 (31.7) |
83.2 (28.4) |
68.1 (20.1) |
52.6 (11.4) |
94.2 (34.6) |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 28.9 (−1.7) |
33.6 (0.9) |
47.7 (8.7) |
62.0 (16.7) |
72.5 (22.5) |
81.3 (27.4) |
83.9 (28.8) |
81.8 (27.7) |
77.0 (25.0) |
64.1 (17.8) |
47.5 (8.6) |
33.7 (0.9) |
59.5 (15.3) |
| Daily mean °F (°C) | 20.4 (−6.4) |
24.9 (−3.9) |
37.7 (3.2) |
50.3 (10.2) |
61.6 (16.4) |
71.1 (21.7) |
74.0 (23.3) |
71.8 (22.1) |
65.3 (18.5) |
52.8 (11.6) |
38.1 (3.4) |
25.6 (−3.6) |
49.5 (9.7) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 11.9 (−11.2) |
16.1 (−8.8) |
27.7 (−2.4) |
38.6 (3.7) |
50.7 (10.4) |
60.9 (16.1) |
64.1 (17.8) |
61.8 (16.6) |
53.5 (11.9) |
41.4 (5.2) |
28.6 (−1.9) |
17.5 (−8.1) |
39.4 (4.1) |
| Mean minimum °F (°C) | −12.2 (−24.6) |
−7.1 (−21.7) |
5.4 (−14.8) |
22.7 (−5.2) |
35.7 (2.1) |
48.4 (9.1) |
53.5 (11.9) |
51.6 (10.9) |
37.7 (3.2) |
23.8 (−4.6) |
9.2 (−12.7) |
−5.0 (−20.6) |
−15.7 (−26.5) |
| Record low °F (°C) | −37 (−38) |
−31 (−35) |
−25 (−32) |
7 (−14) |
18 (−8) |
36 (2) |
39 (4) |
36 (2) |
22 (−6) |
−7 (−22) |
−8 (−22) |
−24 (−31) |
−31 (−35) |
| Average precipitation inches (mm) | 0.69 (18) |
1.02 (26) |
2.01 (51) |
3.89 (99) |
4.99 (127) |
4.89 (124) |
4.53 (115) |
4.75 (121) |
3.47 (88) |
2.63 (67) |
1.86 (47) |
1.17 (30) |
35.90 (912) |
| Average snowfall inches (cm) | 7.8 (20) |
10.0 (25) |
4.2 (11) |
1.3 (3.3) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.5 (1.3) |
2.0 (5.1) |
6.9 (18) |
32.7 (83) |
| Average extreme snow depth inches (cm) | 7.7 (20) |
7.6 (19) |
4.6 (12) |
0.5 (1.3) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.3 (0.76) |
1.1 (2.8) |
5.0 (13) |
10.2 (26) |
| Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in) | 5.9 | 6.4 | 7.7 | 11.5 | 12.7 | 10.9 | 8.7 | 9.6 | 8.6 | 8.8 | 7.0 | 5.6 | 103.4 |
| Average snowy days (≥ 0.1 in) | 4.4 | 4.4 | 1.9 | 0.9 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.3 | 1.5 | 3.6 | 17.0 |
| Source: NOAA | |||||||||||||
How Many People Live in Ames?
| Historical populations | ||
|---|---|---|
| Year | Pop. | ±% |
| 1870 | 636 | — |
| 1880 | 1,153 | +81.3% |
| 1890 | 1,276 | +10.7% |
| 1900 | 2,422 | +89.8% |
| 1910 | 4,223 | +74.4% |
| 1920 | 6,270 | +48.5% |
| 1930 | 10,261 | +63.7% |
| 1940 | 12,555 | +22.4% |
| 1950 | 22,898 | +82.4% |
| 1960 | 27,003 | +17.9% |
| 1970 | 39,505 | +46.3% |
| 1980 | 45,775 | +15.9% |
| 1990 | 47,198 | +3.1% |
| 2000 | 50,731 | +7.5% |
| 2010 | 58,965 | +16.2% |
| 2020 | 66,427 | +12.7% |
| Source: and Iowa Data Center Source: |
||
In 2020, the city of Ames had 66,427 people. There were 25,579 households. About 77.5% of the people were White. About 7.9% were Asian, and 4.2% were Black or African American. People of Hispanic or Latino background made up 5.9% of the population.
The average age in Ames was 23.6 years. This is because many young students live there. About 26.3% of residents were under 20 years old.
What is the Ames Metropolitan Area?
The U.S. Census Bureau says the Ames metropolitan area includes all of Story County. Ames is the largest city in Story County. However, the county seat (the main government town) is Nevada, which is 8 miles (13 km) east of Ames.
The Ames area and the Boone, Iowa area together form a larger region. This combined area had a population of 106,205 in 2000.
What is the Economy Like in Ames?
Ames is home to Iowa State University of Science and Technology. This is a big public research university. Iowa State was first known as the Iowa State College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts.
Many important organizations are in Ames. These include the U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Animal Disease Center. Also, the U.S. Department of Energy's Ames Laboratory is here. The main offices of the Iowa Department of Transportation are also in Ames. These government and state groups are the biggest employers in the city.
Other large companies in Ames include:
- 3M, a manufacturing plant
- Danfoss Power Solutions, which makes hydraulic parts
- Barilla, a pasta maker
- Ball, which makes canning jars and bottles
- Workiva, a cloud computing company
- Renewable Energy Group, a company that makes biomass-based diesel
- The National Farmers Organization
The Iowa State University Research Park helps new businesses grow. It works with Iowa State University. In 2015, Bloomberg Businessweek said Ames was one of the top 15 "Cities That Have Done the Best Since the Recession." In 2016, Ames had one of the lowest unemployment rates in the U.S.
Top Employers in Ames
Here are the top employers in Ames as of 2022:
| # | Employer | # of Employees | Percentage
of Total City Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Iowa State University | 18,212 | 33.33% |
| 3 | Mary Greeley Medical Center | 1,407 | 2.57% |
| 2 | City of Ames | 1,382 | 2.53% |
| 4 | McFarland Clinic, P. C. | 1,200 | 2.20% |
| 5 | Danfoss | 1,052 | 1.93% |
| 6 | Iowa Department of Transportation | 975 | 1.78% |
| 7 | USDA | 750 | 1.37% |
| 8 | Ames Community School District | 700 | 1.28% |
| 9 | Hach Chemical | 580 | 1.06% |
| 10 | Workiva | 550 | 1.01% |
Arts and Culture in Ames
Ames has many places for art and culture:
- Ames History Museum: This museum started in 1980. It also runs a historic schoolhouse.
- Brunnier Art Museum: You can find this museum in the Scheman Building.
- Ames Public Library: This library was founded in 1904. It has many books and multimedia items.
- The Octagon Center for the Arts: This center has art galleries, classes, and studios. It also hosts the Octagon Arts Festival.
Sports in Ames
The Iowa State Cyclones are the sports teams for Iowa State University. They play many different sports in Ames. The Iowa State Cyclones football team plays at Jack Trice Stadium. The basketball and volleyball teams play at Hilton Coliseum. The Cyclones are part of the Big 12 Conference and compete in NCAA Division I-A.
The Ames Figure Skating Club offers skating for all levels. They host the figure skating part of the Iowa Games every summer. The Ames ISU ice arena is also home to the Iowa State Cyclones hockey team. It also hosts the Ames Little Cyclones hockey program for younger students.
Ames also has a youth soccer club, the Ames Soccer Club. They share facilities with baseball and softball teams at the Hunziker Youth Sports Complex.
Education in Ames
Most of Ames is served by the Ames Community School District. A small part of northern Ames is in the Gilbert Community School District.
Public High School
- Ames High School: For grades 9–12.
Public Elementary and Middle Schools
- David Edwards Elementary: Grades K-5
- Abbie Sawyer Elementary School: Grades K-5
- Kate Mitchell Elementary School: Grades K-5
- Warren H. Meeker Elementary School: Grades K-5
- Gertrude Fellows Elementary School: Grades K-5
- Ames Middle School: Grades 6–8
Students in the Gilbert CSD go to Gilbert High School.
Private Schools
- Ames Christian School
- Saint Cecilia School: For pre-kindergarten to 5th grade.
Iowa State University
Iowa State University of Science and Technology (ISU) is a public research university in Ames. It is known as the birthplace of the Atanasoff–Berry Computer. This was the world's first electronic digital computer.
Iowa State has had many famous graduates. These include astronauts, scientists, Nobel laureates, and Pulitzer Prize winners. The university was founded in 1858. It was the first university in the nation to be a land-grant university. This means it received land from the government to focus on agriculture and mechanical arts.
The first building on campus was Farm House, built in the 1860s. Today, it is a museum and a National Historic Landmark. Iowa State has over 60 important buildings. These include Beardshear Hall, Morrill Hall, and the Campanile.
The official mascot for ISU is Cy the Cardinal. The school colors are cardinal and gold. The Iowa State Cyclones play in the NCAA's Division I-A.
Media in Ames
Ames has several ways to get news and entertainment:
Online and Newsprint
- Ames Tribune: A newspaper published Tuesday through Sunday.
- Iowa State Daily: An independent student newspaper from Iowa State University.
- The Des Moines Register: Covers Iowa news and sports for Ames.
- Story County Sun: A weekly newspaper that covers the whole county.
Radio Stations
Several radio stations are licensed to Ames:
- KURE: Student radio from Iowa State University.
- WOI-FM: Iowa Public Radio's main music station.
- WOI (AM): Iowa Public Radio's 24-hour news station.
- KOEZ: An Adult Contemporary music station.
- KCYZ: A Hot Adult Contemporary station.
- KASI: A news/talk station.
- KNWM-FM: A Contemporary Christian music station.
- KHOI: A Community Radio station with local music and news.
Ames also receives stations from the Des Moines area.
Television
Ames is served by TV stations from the Des Moines area. WOI-DT, the ABC channel, was once owned by Iowa State University.
The City of Ames owns Channel 12. It broadcasts city council meetings and local news. Channel 12 has won awards for its programming. Channel 16 is Ames' public access TV channel. It allows residents to broadcast their own programs.
How to Get Around Ames
Ames is served by U.S. Highways 30 and 69, and Interstate 35. Ames is the only city in Iowa with over 50,000 people that does not have a state highway.
The Union Pacific Railroad has two main train lines that go through Ames. About 60-70 trains pass through each day. This can sometimes cause traffic delays. Ames has been testing special train horns at crossings. These horns point down the streets and turn off after the train passes. This helps reduce train noise in neighborhoods.
The Ames Municipal Airport is about 1 mile (1.6 km) southeast of the city. It has two runways.
The city has its own transit system called CyRide. It is funded by Iowa State University and the City of Ames. Students pay for it as part of their tuition. Children under five ride for free. Ames is also served by Jefferson Lines intercity buses. They stop at the Ames Intermodal Facility.
In 2009, Ames was ranked third in the U.S. for the percentage of people who walked to work (10.4%). The city is also working on a new bike plan to improve bike and pedestrian paths.
The headquarters of the Iowa Department of Transportation are in Ames.
Parks and Recreation
Ames has many parks. Some of the biggest are Brookside Park, North River Valley Park, and Ada Hayden Heritage Park. Ada Hayden Park has a lake, wetlands, and trails. The Story County Conservation center is also nearby.
Famous People from Ames
Actors
- Evan Helmuth: Actor (1977–2017).
- Nick Nolte: Actor, lived in Ames for a time.
Artists and Photographers
- John E. Buck: Sculptor.
- Robert Crumb: Cartoonist and musician.
- Laurel Nakadate: Video artist, filmmaker, and photographer.
- Brian Smith: Pulitzer Prize-winning photographer.
Aviation
- Neta Snook Southern: Pioneer aviator who taught Amelia Earhart to fly.
Musicians
- John Darnielle: Musician from the band The Mountain Goats.
- Leslie Hall: Electronic rap musician.
- Peter Schickele: Musician.
- Richie Hayward: Drummer for the band Little Feat.
Journalists
- Robert Bartley: Editor of The Wall Street Journal.
- Michael Gartner: Former president of NBC News.
Politicians
- Edward Mezvinsky: Former U.S. Congressman.
- Lee Teng-hui: Former President of the Republic of China.
- Henry A. Wallace: Former Vice President of the United States.
Sports Figures
- Harrison Barnes: NBA player and Olympic gold medalist.
- Joe Burrow: NFL quarterback.
- Doug McDermott: Basketball player.
- Fred Hoiberg: Former NBA player and coach.
- Billy Sunday: Evangelist and Major League Baseball player.
Scientists
- Laurel Blair Salton Clark: astronaut, who died on the Space Shuttle Columbia.
- Dan Shechtman: Won the 2011 Nobel Prize in Chemistry.
Writers and Poets
- Jane Espenson: Writer and producer for TV shows like Buffy the Vampire Slayer.
- Ted Kooser: U.S. Poet Laureate.
- Sara Paretsky: Author of the V.I. Warshawski mysteries.
- Jane Smiley: Pulitzer Prize-winning novelist.
- Neal Stephenson: Author.
- Lincoln Peirce: Cartoonist and writer of the Big Nate comics.
Images for kids
-
Clockwise from top: Main Street in downtown Ames, Iowa State University Alumni Hall, Marston Water Tower and Hoover Hall at ISU, Reiman Gardens, a train station in Ames, and Beardshear Hall
-
Location in the State of Iowa
-
The population of Ames, Iowa from US census data
-
Location of the Ames-Boone CSA and its components: Ames Metropolitan Statistical Area Boone Micropolitan Statistical Area
-
Memorial Union, Iowa State College, 1940
-
City power plant at night blows steam into the air
See also
In Spanish: Ames (Iowa) para niños
