Ames, Colorado facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Ames, Colorado
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Ames and the Ilium Valley
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| Country |  United States |
| State |  Colorado |
| County | San Miguel |
| Elevation | 8,721 ft (2,658 m) |
| Time zone | UTC-7 (Mountain (MST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-6 (MDT) |
| Area code(s) | 970 |
| GNIS feature ID | 187459 |
Ames is a small, quiet community located in San Miguel County, Colorado, United States. It's known for a very important piece of history: it was home to the world's first system that used alternating current (AC) electricity for industrial work, especially in mining. This groundbreaking power plant was called the Ames Hydroelectric Generating Plant.
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What is Ames, Colorado?
Ames is an unincorporated community. This means it's a group of homes and buildings that isn't officially a town or city with its own local government. Instead, it's managed by the larger San Miguel County. Ames is nestled in the beautiful mountains of Colorado, at an elevation of 8,721 feet (2,658 meters) above sea level.
The Amazing Ames Hydroelectric Plant
One of the most exciting things about Ames is its connection to electricity. The Ames Hydroelectric Generating Plant was a huge step forward in how we use power. It was the first place in the world to generate and send out alternating current (AC) electricity for industrial purposes.
How AC Power Changed Mining
Before AC power, most electricity was direct current (DC). DC power works well for short distances, but it loses a lot of energy when sent over long wires. This was a big problem for mines in the mountains, which were often far from power sources.
The Ames plant changed everything. It used AC power, which can be sent over long distances much more efficiently. This meant that mines, even those high up in the mountains, could get the power they needed to run their machinery. This invention made mining much easier and more productive in the late 1800s.
A Bit of History
Ames has a long history, especially tied to the mining boom in Colorado. The community even had its own post office. The Ames post office was open for many years, from December 20, 1880, until June 3, 1922. While it's a quiet place today, its past is full of innovation and the spirit of the American West.
