Ames, University town in Story County, Iowa, United States.
Ames is a university town in Story County, Iowa, built around the Iowa State University campus and downtown core. The town sits in the central Iowa prairie, surrounded by cornfields and gently rolling hills.
The Cedar Rapids and Missouri Railroad founded the town in 1864, naming it after Congressman Oakes Ames who supported the transcontinental railroad. The university was established in 1858 as an agricultural college and has since shaped the growth of the town.
The university campus shapes the town with its red brick buildings and wide lawns where students gather between classes. Downtown streets are lined with bookstores, coffee shops, and small businesses that cater to the young population.
The CyRide bus system connects all parts of town and runs regularly between campus and downtown. Interstate 35 and Highways 30 and 69 lead directly to town, providing quick connections to surrounding areas.
The Department of Energy's Ames Laboratory conducts materials science research and produced the first pure uranium metal in the 1950s. The National Animal Disease Center studies animal diseases and their impact on agriculture and public health.
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