Story County, Iowa facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Story County
U.S. county
Story County Administration Building
Location within the U.S. state of Iowa
Iowa's location within the U.S.
Country	United States
State	Iowa
Founded	1846
Named for	Joseph Story
Seat	Nevada
Largest city	Ames
Area
• Total	574 sq mi (1,490 km2)
• Land	573 sq mi (1,480 km2)
• Water	0.8 sq mi (2 km2)  0.1%
Population  (2020)
• Total	98,537
• Estimate  (2023)	98,566
• Density	171.67/sq mi (66.28/km2)
Time zone	UTC−6 (Central)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district	4th

Story County is a county in the U.S. state of Iowa. As of the 2020 census, the population was 98,537, making it the ninth-most populous county in Iowa. The county seat is Nevada; the largest city is Ames. The geographical center of Iowa lies in Story County, 5 miles (8.0 km) northeast of Ames. Story County comprises the Ames, IA Metropolitan Statistical Area, which is included in the Des Moines-Ames-West Des Moines, IA Combined Statistical Area. The county is home to Iowa State University in Ames.

History

Bales of hay on a farm near Ames, Story County, Iowa

The land that today is known as Story County was originally prairie with the exception of some groves along the larger streams in the area. In 1846 the boundaries of Story County were established. The county has an area of 576 square miles (1,490 km²) and is square in shape.

Supreme Court Justice Joseph Story

The county was named after Joseph Story, a preeminent United States Supreme Court Justice, in 1853. The first settlers to the area came from Indiana, then from the New England states of New York and Pennsylvania. Later, many Norwegians, Germans and Danes came directly from overseas and inhabited the area. The first large population influx occurred during the 1850s. Story County was not mentioned in the Federal Census in 1850, but figures from the State of Iowa put the population at 214 in 1852. By 1860 the population had increased to 4,501.

Three commissioners were appointed by the Iowa legislature to determine the county seat location. On June 27, 1853, they announced Nevada as their choice. Nevada (pronounced Nuh-VAY-Dah) was named after the Sierra Nevada mountain range in California. Like many Midwestern towns, cities and counties, many prominent locations from the newly explored West and Mexican–American War of the late 1840s inspired the naming of towns and counties in Iowa during this period.

Railroad construction did more to develop Story County than any other single factor. The first railroad came to the county in 1864. Railroads were such a decisive factor in determining the location of towns that several communities in Story County moved to be closer to the rail line. Some flourishing little towns that were bypassed by the railroad soon disappeared. Although Nevada was long the population center of the county, Ames was the most widely known of the towns because of the busy railroad depot where travelers would transfer to their next train.

Story County has had five courthouses. The first, a two-level frame building, was erected in 1856. Fire destroyed it in 1863, and it was replaced by a similar structure, which was replaced by a larger three-level building in 1877, situated on the town square. This building's tower served as a vantage point to view the countryside; it was eventually removed for safety reasons. The fourth courthouse was built in 1967 and placed in service on May 18, 1968. That building is still in use as offices for the Board of Supervisors, Auditor, Treasurer, Recorder, Assessor, Information Technology, Facilities Management, Health and Planning & Development Offices. A cannon from the Civil War rests on the lawn. The current courthouse, the Story County Justice Center, opened in 2002. The Justice Center, comprising the law enforcement and judicial aspects of Story County Government. The Justice Center houses the Sheriff's Office & Jail, Attorney, and Clerk of Court.

Story County consists of 16 townships and 15 incorporated cities, and 4 unincorporated towns. The population of 79,981 in the 2000 census consisted of 71,114 in urban areas and 8867 in rural areas.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 574 square miles (1,490 km²), of which 573 square miles (1,480 km²) is land and 0.8 square miles (2.1 km²) (0.1%) is water.

The geographical center of Iowa lies in Story County, 5 miles (8.0 km) northeast of Ames.

Adjacent counties

• Hamilton County (northwest)
• Hardin County (northeast)
• Marshall County (east)
• Jasper County (southeast)
• Polk County (south)
• Boone County (west)

Transportation

Transit

• CyRide
• Jefferson Lines
• List of intercity bus stops in Iowa

Major highways

• I-35
• I-35 Business Loop
• US 30
• US 65
• US 69
• Iowa 210
• Iowa 330
• Iowa 930

Airports

Story County is home to the Ames Municipal Airport, on the south side of Ames. The nearest large airport is the Des Moines International Airport, on the south side of Des Moines, some 30 miles from Story County.

Rail lines

Story County contains three rail lines, all controlled by the Union Pacific Railroad Company. The Overland Route runs east–west on its route from Chicago to California, passing near Ames, Colo and Nevada in Story County. The Spine Line runs north–south on its route from Minneapolis to Kansas City, Missouri, passing near McCallsburg, Nevada and Cambridge. The third line in Story County begins at Ames and runs near Gilbert and Story City.

Demographics

Population of Story County from US census data

2020 census

2022 US Census population pyramid for Story County from ACS 5-year estimates

The 2020 census recorded a population of 98,537 in the county, with a population density of 171.2818/sq mi (66.1323/km²). 93.90% of the population reported being of one race. There were 41,361 housing units, of which 38,273 were occupied.

2010 census

The following Story County statistics were gathered by the 2010 U.S. Census.

Population Story County had a population of 89,542, a 12% increase from the 2000 Census. Of that number, 17.8% of those people are under the age of 18, and 10% are over the age of 65, 95.1% of those people (age 25+) are high school graduates, and 45.4% (age 25+) hold at least a bachelor's degree.

Commuting time Story County workers age 16 and older spent an average of 16.6 minutes traveling to work between 2005 and 2009.

Workforce data There were 45,010 individuals working in Story County and 81.5% of those people live in Story County. The remaining percentages break down as follows: 6.8% live in Boone County (directly west) 4.2% live in Polk County (directly south) 2.1% live in Hamilton County (directly north) 1.2% live in Hardin County (directly north) 1.1% live in Marshal County (directly east).

There were 43,839 working individuals who lived in Story County and worked anywhere, and 83.7% of those people worked in Story County.

Household data According to the 2010 U.S. Census, the median household income in 2009 was $48,165, with an average of 2.41 people per household between 2005 and 2009.

The per capita income in the past 12 months (2009 dollars) between 2005 and 2009 was $24,202.

Story County laborshed

Total potential labor force

According to the Story County Laborshed Analysis, which was analyzed and compiled by the Iowa Workforce Development in August 2011, Story County has a total potential labor force of 424,702 people, which breaks down as follows:

• Employed – 75.3%
• Unemployed – 8.37%
• Homemakers – 7.8%
• Retired – 8.2%

Likelihood to accept / change employment The estimated number of individuals who are very likely or somewhat likely to change or accept employment is 106,383, or 25%.

• Employed – 87.6%
• Unemployed – 3%
• Homemakers – 5.2%
• Retired – 4.2%

Unemployment Of those unemployed and willing to enter / re-enter employment:

• Average age – 45
• Male – 50%
• Female – 50%
• Have Education Beyond High School – 67.5%

Wages The estimated wage range to attract the upper 66-75% of qualified hourly wage applicants is $10 to $10.44 per hour, with a median of the lowest wage at $10 per hour.

Commute Those unemployed and willing to enter / re-enter employment are willing to commute an average of 24 miles one way for the right opportunity.

Law enforcement

Story County Sheriff's Office
Abbreviation	SCSO
Jurisdictional structure
General nature	Local civilian police
Operational structure
Headquarters	Story County Justice Center Nevada, Iowa
Sheriff responsible	Paul H. Fitzgerald
Website
Story County Sheriff

Primary law enforcement for the county rests with the Story County Sheriff's Office. The department provides law enforcement services for the contract towns and unincorporated areas of Story County, as well as providing for courthouse security, operating the county jail, and performing civil procedures. Paul H. Fitzgerald has served as Sheriff since 1993.

Other law enforcement agencies in the county include:

• Ames Police Department
• Iowa State University Police Division
• Nevada Police Department
• Huxley Police Department
• Story City Police Department

Communities

Cities

Unincorporated communities

• Fernald
• Iowa Center
• Shipley

Townships

Population ranking

The population ranking of the following table is based on the 2020 census of Story County.

† county seat

Education

School districts in the county include:

• Ames Community School District
• Ballard Community School District
• Collins-Maxwell Community School District
• Colo-Nesco Community School District
• Gilbert Community School District
• Nevada Community School District
• North Polk Community School District
• Roland-Story Community School District
• United Community School District
• West Marshall Community School District

See also

In Spanish: Condado de Story para niños