Ames,_Iowa

{{Infobox Settlement
|official_name = Ames
|settlement_type = [[City]]
|nickname =
|motto =
|image_skyline = Ames Iowa Main Street.jpg
|imagesize =
|image_caption = Main Street in downtown Ames in 2006
|image_flag =
|image_seal =
|image_map = Story_County_Iowa_Incorporated_and_Unincorporated_areas_Ames_Highlighted.svg
|mapsize = 250x200px
|map_caption = Location in the State of [[Iowa]]
|image_map1 =
|mapsize1 =
|map_caption1 =
|subdivision_type = [[List of countries|Country]]
|subdivision_type1 = [[Political divisions of the United States|State]]
|subdivision_type2 = [[List of counties in Iowa|County]]
|subdivision_name = [[Image:Flag of the United States.svg|20px]] [[United States]]
|subdivision_name1 = [[Image:Flag of Iowa.svg|20px]] [[Iowa]]
|subdivision_name2 = [[Story County, Iowa|Story]]
|government_type =
|leader_title = [[Mayor]]
|leader_name = Ann Campbell
|established_title = [[Municipal corporation|Incorporated]]
|established_date = 1864
|area_magnitude =
|area_total_sq_mi = 21.58
|area_total_km2 = 55.9
|area_land_sq_mi = 21.57
|area_land_km2 = 55.9
|area_water_sq_mi = 0.01
|area_water_km2 = 0.0
|population_as_of = 2006
|population_total = 51557
|population_metro = 80145
|population_density_km2 = 908.2
|population_density_sq_mi = 2390.2
|timezone = [[North American Central Time Zone|CST]]
|utc_offset = -6
|timezone_DST = [[North American Central Time Zone|CDT]]
|utc_offset_DST = -7
|latd = 42 |latm = 1 |lats = 38 |latNS = N
|longd = 93 |longm = 37 |longs = 54 |longEW = W
|elevation_m = 287
|elevation_ft = 942
|postal_code_type = [[ZIP code]]s
|postal_code = 50010-50014
|area_code = [[Area code 515|515]]
|blank_name = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
|blank_info = 19-01855
|blank1_name = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
|blank1_info = 0454167
|footnotes =
|website = http://www.city.ames.ia.us/
}}
'''Ames''' is a city located in the central part of the [[U.S. state]] of [[Iowa]], about 30 miles north of [[Des Moines, Iowa|Des Moines]] in [[Story County, Iowa|Story County]]. It is the principal city of the 'Ames, Iowa [[Metropolitan Statistical Area]]' which encompasses all of Story County, Iowa and which, when combined with the '[[Boone, Iowa]] [[Micropolitan Statistical Area]]', comprises the larger 'Ames-Boone, Iowa [[Combined Statistical Area]]'. As of the [[United States 2000 Census|2000 Census]], the city population was 50,731. While Ames is the largest city in Story County, the county seat is in Nevada which is 8 miles east of Ames. Ames is the home of [[Iowa State University]], with leading Engineering, Science and Agriculture colleges. It is also the site of the [[Ames Straw Poll]], an important [[straw poll]] in the [[United States Republican Party|Republican party]] [[President of the United States|presidential]] nomination process (''see Politics, below'').

==History==
The city was founded in [[1864]] as a station stop on the [[Cedar Rapids and Missouri Railroad]] and was named after 19th century [[United States House of Representatives|U.S. congressman]] [[Oakes Ames]] of [[Massachusetts]], who was influential in the building of the [[First transcontinental railroad (North America)|transcontinental railroad]]. Ames was founded near a location that was deemed favorable for a railroad crossing of the [[Skunk River]].

==Geography==
According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the city has a total area of 21.6 [[square mile]]s (55.9 [[km²]]), of which, 21.6 square miles (55.9 km²) of it is land and 0.04 square miles (0.1 km²) of it (0.09%) is water.

Ames is located on [[Interstate 35]], [[U.S. Route 30]] & [[U.S. Route 69|69]], and the cross country line of the [[Union Pacific Railroad]], located roughly 30 miles (48 km) north of the state capital [[Des Moines, Iowa|Des Moines]].

Two small rivers run through the town: the [[Skunk River]] and [[Squaw Creek (Iowa)|Squaw Creek]].

==Demographics==
As of the [[United States 2000 Census|2000 Census]], there were 50,731 people, 18,085 households, and 8,970 families residing in the city. The [[population density]] was 2,352.3 people per square mile (908.1/km²). There were 18,757 housing units at an average density of 869.7/sq mi (335.7/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 87.34% White, 7.70% [[Asian Americans|Asian]], 2.65% [[African American]], [[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]], 0.04% Pacific Islander, 0.76% from other races, and 1.36% from two or more races. [[Ethnicity (United States Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Ethnicity (United States Census)|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 [[Marriage|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.

In the city the population was spread out with 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 the [[poverty line]], including 9.2% of those under age 18 and 4.1% of those age 65 or over.

A large number of Ames residents are university students. In 2004, for example, there were 26,390 students enrolled at Iowa State University in Ames.

==Politics==
Iowa is a "[[battleground state]]" that has trended slightly [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] in recent years, but Ames, like [[Iowa City]], trends [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]], partly due to the presence of the university community. Because Iowa is the first caucus state and Ames is a [[college town]], it is the site of many political appearances, debates and events, especially during election years.

During every [[August]] in which the Republican [[President of the United States|presidential]] nomination is undecided (meaning there is no incumbent Republican president -- as in, most recently, 2007, 1999, 1995 and 1987), the town plays host to the [[Ames Straw Poll]], which gauges support for the various Republican candidates amongst attendees of a [[fundraising]] dinner benefiting the [[Republican Party of Iowa|Iowa Republican Party]]. The straw poll dates back to 1979, and is frequently seen as a first test of organizational strength in Iowa by the national media and party insiders; as such, it can be very beneficial for a candidate to win the straw poll and thus enhance his aura of inevitability or show off a superior field operation. [http://www.cnn.com/ALLPOLITICS/stories/1999/08/14/iowa.saturday.02/]

==Transportation==
The town is served by US Highways 30 and 69 and Interstate 35. Ames is the only town in Iowa with a population of greater than 50,000 that does not have a state highway serving it.

Ames was also serviced by the Fort Dodge, Des Moines & Southern Railroad via a branch from Kelly to Iowa State University and to downtown Ames. The tracks were removed in the 1960's. The Chicago and Northwestern used to operate a branch to Des Moines. This line was removed in the 1980's when the Spine Line though Nevada was purchased from the Rock Island Railroad after its bankruptcy. The Union Pacific, successor to the C&NW, still runs 60-70 trains a day through the ISU campus and downtown Ames on twin mainlines which leads to some traffic delays. There is also a branch to Eagle Grove that leaves Ames to the north. The Union Pacific maintains a small yard called Ames Yard east of Ames between Ames and Nevada.

The town also has a municipal airport near the Iowa State University Campus. The [http://www.cityofames.org City of Ames] offers a transit system throughout town called "[http://www.cyride.com Cy-Ride]" that is funded jointly by Iowa State University, the ISU Government of the Student Body, and the City of Ames.

==Economy==
Ames is home of [[Iowa State University]] of Science & Technology, a [[space grant colleges|space grant college]], at its founding, the state's (Morrill Act) [[land-grant university]], formerly known as the Iowa State College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts. Ames is the home of the closely allied U.S Department of Agriculture's National Animal Disease Center, the U.S. Department of Energy's [[Ames Laboratory]] (a major materials research and development facility) and the main offices of the Iowa State Department of Transportation. State and Federal institutions are the largest employers in Ames.

Other area employers include a [[3M]] manufacturing plant; [[Sauer-Danfoss]], a hydraulics manufacturer; [[Barilla Group|Barilla]], a pasta manufacturer; and [[Ball Corporation|Ball]], a manufacturer of canning jars and plastic bottles.

==Medical==
Ames is served by Mary Greeley Medical Center, a 220-bed regional referral hospital which is adjacent to McFarland Clinic PC: central Iowa's largest physician-owned multi-specialty clinic and also Iowa Heart Center.

Ames is also the home of the National Animal Disease Center where all American [[Mad Cow Disease]] samples are tested among other things.

== Points of interest ==
* [[Ames High School]]
* [[Iowa State University]]
* [[Reiman Gardens]]
* [[Jack Trice Stadium]]
* [[Ames Middle School]]
* [[Brunnier Art Museum]]

== People ==
* [[Kate Austen]], Fictional Character from the ABC's [[Lost (TV Series)]], lived in Ames, Iowa
* [[George Washington Carver]], Inventor, was an alumnus and a professor at ISU.
* [[Carrie Chapman Catt]], women's rights activist, ISU graduate
* [[Laurel Blair Salton Clark]], [[astronaut]], died on [[STS-107]].
* [[David M. Dobson]], creator of [[Snood (video game)]], grew up in Ames, Iowa.
* [[Leslie Hall]], [[Internet Phenomenon]], founder of the Mobile Museum of Gem Sweaters, was born and is currently living in Ames, IA.
* [[Fred Hoiberg]], Retired NBA basketball player, raised in Ames and ISU graduate
* [[Ted Kooser]], U.S. Poet Laureate, was raised in Ames, Iowa and attended Iowa State University.
* [[Sara Paretsky]], Author, was born in Ames, Iowa.
* [[Cael Sanderson]], Olympic Gold Medalist, Iowa State University wrestling coach and collegiate wrestler.
* [[Peter Schickele]], Musician, was born in Ames, Iowa
* [[Neal Stephenson]], Author, grew up in Ames, Iowa
* [[Billy Sunday]], evangelist and major league baseball player, born in Ames

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{Geolinks-US-cityscale|42.027335|-93.631586}}
*[http://www.city.ames.ia.us City of Ames]
*[http://www.mainstreetculturaldistrict.com/ The Main Street Cultural District]

{{Story County, Iowa}}
{{Iowa}}

[[Category:Ames, Iowa| ]]
[[Category:Cities in Iowa]]
[[Category:Story County, Iowa]]
[[Category:University towns in the United States]]

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