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: "Smart Choice" | |
 Location in the State of Iowa | |
  Ames  Ames | |
| Coordinates: 42°02′05″N 93°37′12″W / 42.03472°N 93.62000°W | |
| 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 | 66,342 |
| • Metro | 125,252 (Story and Boone counties) |
| Time zone | UTC−6 (CST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−5 (CDT) |
| ZIP code(s)™ | 50010-50014 |
| FIPS code | 19-01855 |
| GNIS feature ID | 0454167 |
| Website | www |
Ames is a city in Iowa in the United States. In 2020 there were 66,427 people living in the city. It is was built between Skunk River and Squaw Creek, 35 miles north of the state capital, Des Moines. The town was first settled in 1864 as a railway town at a spot where the Skunk River could be crossed easily. It was named after Oakes Ames, a member of the US Congress who supported building the railway.
Ames is the home of the Iowa State University. It is also famous for being the home of the United States Department of Agriculture's National Animal Disease Center.
