Ames (/eɪmz/) is a city inStory County, Iowa, United States, located approximately 30 miles (48 km) north ofDes Moines in central Iowa. It is the home ofIowa State University (ISU). According to the2020 census, Ames had a population of 66,427, making it the state'sninth-most populous city.[5] Iowa State University was home to 30,177 students as of fall 2023,[6] which make up approximately one half of the city's population.
The city was founded in 1864 as a station stop on theCedar Rapids and Missouri Railroad and was named after 19th century U.S. CongressmanOakes Ames of Massachusetts, who was influential in the building of thetranscontinental railroad.[9] Ames was founded by local resident Cynthia Olive Duff (née Kellogg) and railroad magnateJohn Insley Blair,[10] near a location that was deemed favorable for a railroad crossing of theSkunk River andIoway Creek. William West (1821–1919) became the first mayor of Ames in 1870. With his wife Harriet, from 1869 to 1892, he ran Ames's first hotel, known as West House, on Douglas Avenue on the site of the present Octagon Center for the Arts. West was a highly respected pioneer businessman who also served on the Ames School Board in the 1880s when Central School was built on the site of the present Ames City Hall on Clark Avenue and Sixth Street. The Wests raised several daughters and sons. William West spent the last of his life living with his son in northwest Iowa.[11]
Ames is located along the western edge ofStory County, roughly 30 miles (48 km) north of the state capital,Des Moines. Passing through Ames is the cross country line of theUnion Pacific Railroad and two small streams (the South Skunk River andIoway Creek).
According to theUnited States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 24.27 square miles (62.86 km2), of which 24.21 square miles (62.70 km2) is land and 0.06 square miles (0.16 km2) is water.[12]
Campustown, south of Iowa State University, is a high-density mixed-use neighborhood with many student apartments, nightlife venues, and restaurants.[citation needed]
Ames has ahumid continental climate (Köppen climate classificationDfa). On average, the warmest month is July and the coldest is January. The highest recorded temperature was 109 °F (43 °C) on July 24, 1901, and the lowest was −37 °F (−38 °C) January 25, 1894.[13]
Climate data for Ames, Iowa (1991–2020 temperature/precipitation normals, 1978-2024 otherwise)
As of thecensus of 2020,[16] there were 66,427 people, 25,579 households, and 10,641 families residing in the city. Thepopulation density was 2,407.5 inhabitants per square mile (929.5/km2). There were 27,806 housing units at an average density of 1,007.8 per square mile (389.1/km2). Theracial makeup of the city was 77.5%White, 4.2%Black or African American, 0.3%Native American, 7.9%Asian, 0.0%Pacific Islander, 3.1% from other races and 6.9% from two or more races.Hispanic or Latino persons of any race comprised 5.9% of the population.
Of the 25,579 households, 17.5% of which had children under the age of 18 living with them, 32.5% weremarried couples living together, 6.8% were cohabiting couples, 29.5% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present and 31.2% had a male householder with no spouse or partner present. 58.4% of all households were non-families. 35.9% of all households were made up of individuals, 8.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years old or older.
The median age in the city was 23.6 years. 26.3% of the residents were under the age of 20; 27.7% were between the ages of 20 and 24; 22.4% were from 25 and 44; 12.8% were from 45 and 64; and 10.8% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 53.0% male and 47.0% female.
As of the census[17] of 2010, there were 58,965 people, 22,759 households, and 9,959 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,435.6 inhabitants per square mile (940.4/km2). There were 23,876 housing units at an average density of 986.2 per square mile (380.8/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 84.5% White, 3.4% African American, 0.2% Native American, 8.8% Asian, 1.1% from other races, and 2.0% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.4% of the population.
There were 22,759 households, of which 19.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 35.6% were married couples living together, 5.4% had a female householder with no husband present, 2.7% had a male householder with no wife present, and 56.2% were non-families. 30.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 6.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.25 and the average family size was 2.82.
The median age in the city was 23.8 years. 13.4% of residents were under the age of 18; 40.5% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 22.9% were from 25 to 44; 15% were from 45 to 64; and 8.1% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 53.0% male and 47.0% female.
As of the census of 2000,[18] there were 50,731 people, 18,085 households, and 8,970 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,352.3 inhabitants per square mile (908.2/km2). There were 18,757 housing units at an average density of 869.7 per square mile (335.8/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 87.34% White, 7.70% Asian, 2.65% African American, 0.04% Native American, 0.76% Pacific Islander and other races, and 1.36% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.98% of the population.
There were 18,085 households, out of which 22.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 42.0% were married couples living together, 5.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 50.4% were non-families. 28.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 5.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.30 and the average family size was 2.85.
Age spread: 14.6% under the age of 18, 40.0% from 18 to 24, 23.7% from 25 to 44, 13.9% from 45 to 64, and 7.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 24 years. For every 100 females, there were 109.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 109.9 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $36,042, and the median income for a family was $56,439. Males had a median income of $37,877 versus $28,198 for females. The per capita income for the city was $18,881. About 7.6% of families and 20.4% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 9.2% of those under age 18 and 4.1% of those age 65 or over.
Location of the Ames-Boone CSA and its components:
Ames Metropolitan Statistical Area
Boone Micropolitan Statistical Area
TheU.S. Census Bureau designates the AmesMSA as encompassing all of Story County. While Ames is the largest city in Story County, thecounty seat is in the nearby city ofNevada, 8 miles (13 km) east of Ames.
Located in Ames are the main offices of theIowa Department of Transportation, and state and Federal institutions are the largest employers in Ames.[22]
The Bureau of Labor Statistics ranked Ames andBoulder, Colorado as having the lowest unemployment rate (2.5%) of any metropolitan area in the United States in 2016.[24] By June 2018, unemployment in Ames had fallen even further, to 1.5%, though wage increases for workers were not keeping pace with rising rents.[25]
The Octagon Center for the Arts includes galleries, art classes, art studios, and a retail shop. They sponsor the local street fair, The Octagon Arts Festival, and holds an annual National Juried Exhibition judging artwork in material categories such as Clay, Fiber, Paper, Glass, Metal, and Wood.[30]
Ames has multiple parks, including Brookside Park, River Valley Park and the Ada Hayden Heritage Park, which contains a lake, a series of wetlands and trails.[34]Reiman Gardens, owned by Iowa State University, is a public garden located in Ames.[35][36]
From 1979 through 2011, Ames was the location of theAmes Straw Poll, which was held every August prior to a presidential election year in which the Republican presidential nomination was undecided (meaning there was no Republican president running for re-election—as in 2011, 2007, 1999, 1995, 1987, and 1979). The poll would gauge support for the various Republican candidates amongst attendees of afundraising dinner benefiting theIowa Republican Party. The straw poll was frequently seen by national media and party insiders as a first test of organizational strength in Iowa.[37] In 2015, the straw poll was to be moved to nearby Boone before the Iowa Republican Party eventually decided to cancel it altogether.[38]
KURE, student radio operated at Iowa State University.
WOI-FM,Iowa Public Radio's flagship "Studio One" station, broadcasting anNPR news format during the day and a music format in the evening, owned and operated at Iowa State University.
WOI (AM), Iowa Public Radio's flagship station delivering a 24-hour news format consisting mainly of NPR programming, owned and operated at Iowa State University.
KHOI,Community Radio station licensed toStory City with studios in Ames. KHOI broadcasts music and local public affairs programs and is affiliated with thePacifica Radio network.
Ames is served by the Des Moines media market.WOI-DT, theABC affiliate in central Iowa, was originally owned and operated by Iowa State University until the 1990s. The station is licensed to Ames, with studio's located inWest Des Moines. Other stations serving Ames includeKCCI,KDIN-TV,WHO-DT,KCWI-TV,KDMI,KDSM-TV andKFPX-TV.
Channel 12 is owned by the City of Ames, broadcasting city council meetings and local events. The station has received a NATOA Government Programming Award and a Telly Award.[42]
Fred Hoiberg, retiredNBA basketball player; raised in Ames, ISU graduate, former ISU basketball coach, former coach of the Chicago Bulls and currentNebraska men's basketball coach.
Dan Shechtman, awarded 2011Nobel Prize in Chemistry for "the discovery of quasicrystals"; Professor of Materials Science at Iowa State University (2004–present) and Associate at the Department of Energy'sAmes Laboratory
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