About Ames

Ames, Iowa, is located about 30 miles north of the state capitol, Des Moines, Iowa. The city was the chosen location for the Cedar Rapids and Missouri Railroad to cross the Skunk River. The land for the railroad was given in the Land Bill of 1856 and The Cedar Rapids and Missouri Railroad was the first railroad to reach the eastern end of the First Transcontinental Railroad then located at Council Bluffs, Iowa. The town was named by the President of the railroad, John Blair, for United States Congressman Oakes Ames of Massachusetts, who traveled throughout the area with Mr. Blair. The city was chartered in 1854, and the first school was opened in 1855. It was known as Bloomington School. The first church in the area was built in 1865 and its first minister was Reverend John White. The town was not laid out until 1870 by Charles Irish, an engineer with the Cedar Rapids and Missouri Railroad. In 1870s, the city had 638 residents. Those looking to buy real estate in Ames, Iowa, today should look in the Ames, IA business directory.

The hottest temperature ever recorded in Ames, Iowa, was 102 degrees in 1988. The hottest month is normally July, with an average high of 84 degrees. The coldest month is normally January with an average daily high of 27 degrees. The lowest temperature ever recorded in Ames, Iowa, was -26 degrees in 1970. The rainiest month of the year is normally June, with about 5 inches of rain. The snowiest month of the year is normally December with about 6 and a half inches of snow.Ames, IA's history is closely tied to the history of Iowa State University which was originally known as Iowa Agricultural College and Model Farm. The university was started on March 22, 1858 in nearby Story County moving to Ames in 1869. The university was one home of George Washington Carver and has been responsible for many advances in technology. Iowa State University was the first land-grant university in the nation. Adonijah Strong Welch, a Florida United States Senator, was the first college president. Those in the Ames, Iowa, area looking for more information should consult the Ames, IA yellow pages.

Written by Lyndsey Morgan