Ames is a city located in the central part of the U.S. state of Iowa in Story County. Lying approximately 30 miles (48 km) north of Des Moines, it had a 2010 population of 58,965. The U.S. Census Bureau designates the Ames metropolitan statistical area as encompassing all of Story County; combined with the Boone, Iowa micropolitan statistical area (Boone County, Iowa), the pair make up the larger Ames-Boone combined statistical area. While Ames is the largest city in Story County, the county seat is in the nearby city of Nevada 8 miles (13 km) east of Ames. Ames is the home of Iowa State University of Science and Technology (ISU), a public research institution with leading Agriculture, Design, Engineering, and Veterinary Medicine colleges. ISU is the nation's first designated land-grant university, and the birthplace of the Atanasoff–Berry Computer, the world's first electronic digital computer. Ames hosts one of two national sites for the United States Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) which comprises the National Veterinary Services Laboratories and the Center for Veterinary Biologics. Ames is also the home of the USDA's Agricultural Research Service's National Animal Disease Center. NADC is the largest federal animal disease center in the U.S., conducting research aimed at solving animal health and food safety problems faced by livestock producers and the public. Ames has the headquarters for the Iowa Department of Transportation. In 2010, Ames was ranked ninth on CNNMoney.com "Best Places to Live" list.
Info courtesy of:Wikipedia.org
History The city was founded in 1864 as a station stop on the Cedar Rapids and Missouri Railroad and was named after 19th century U.S. Congressman Oakes Ames of Massachusetts, who was influential in the building of the transcontinental railroad. Ames was founded near a location that was deemed favorable for a railroad crossing of the Skunk River. It was founded by the Ames family which originated from England.
Economy Ames is home of Iowa State University of Science and Technology, a public land-grant and space-grant research university, and member of the prestigious Association of American Universities. At its founding in 1858, Iowa State was 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 (See Ames strain), the U.S. Department of Energy's Ames Laboratory (a major materials research and development facility), and the main offices of the Iowa 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, a pasta manufacturer; Ball, a manufacturer of canning jars and plastic bottles; and the National Farmers Organization. Top employers
According to Ames's 2011 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report, the top employers in the city are: #
Employer
# of Employees
1
Iowa State University
14,020
2
Mary Greeley Medical Center
1,347
3 Iowa Department of Transportation
1,012
4
McFarland Clinic
886
5
City of Ames
857
6
Hy-Vee
738
7
Sauer-Danfoss
650
8
Ames Community School District
622
Country State County Incorporated Government • Mayor Area • City • Land • Water Elevation
United States Iowa Story 1864 Ann Campbell 24.27 sq mi (62.86 km2) 24.21 sq mi (62.70 km2) 0.06 sq mi (0.16 km2) 942 ft (287 m)
• City • Estimate (2012) • Rank • Density • Urban • Metro Time zone • Summer (DST) ZIP code Website
Population (2010) 58,965 60,634 8th in Iowa 2,435.6/sq mi (940.4/km2) 60,438[2] 89,542 (estimate based on Story Count) CST (UTC-6) CDT (UTC-5) 50010, 50011-50013 (UNIQUE ZIP Codes-for Iowa State University), 50014 http://www.cityofames.org/
Info courtesy of:Wikipedia.org
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PHOTO COURTSEY OF SXC.HU
PHOTO COURTSEY OF SXC.HU
PHOTO COURTSEY OF SXC.HU
PHOTO COURTSEY OF SXC.HU
PHOTO COURTSEY OF SXC.HU