| Ames
was established in 1864 to serve the Cedar Rapids and Missouri
River Railroad. The railroad president, John Blair, named
the town after his friend Oakes Ames, a railroad promoter
and congressman from Massachusetts, who never lived in Ames.
Nestled
between the Skunk River and Squaw Creek, Ames has a population
of more than 50,000, which includes ISU students.
Recently,
Ames achieved the second highest grades for quality in ten
areas in the book, The New Rating Guide to Life in America's
Small Cities, by Kevin Heubusch, 1997. Ames ranked 2nd out
of 189 cities that qualified for the book based on its grades
for in the following areas - climate/environment, diversions,
economics, education, community assets, health care, public
safety, transportation, and urban proximity.
Ames
offers an array of cultural and entertainment options normally
found in larger communities -- Big 12 sports to Broadway
shows. The dining options vary from barbeque to Mexican
to steak DeBurgo. Shopping districts abound. There's Main
Street, Campustown, North Grand Mall and South Duff Avenue.
Getting
Here
Centrally located in the Midwest and Iowa, Ames is easily
accessed by Interstates 35 and 80. The Des Moines International
Airport, located 40 minutes south of Ames, is served by
several major commercial airlines. The Ames Municipal Airport
receives small aircraft, including corporate jets.
|