Ames, Iowa

Named after 19th century railroad booster and Congressman, [Oakes Ames]?, Ames is a city of approximately 50,000 people ([2000 census]?) in Iowa, located roughly 30 miles north of the state capitol, Des Moines.

State institutions are the largest employers in Ames, given that both the state's land grant university, Iowa State University, and the state Department of Transportation have large installations in Ames.

Other area employers includ Sauer-Danforth, a printing concern; Barilla, a pasta manufacturer; Pella, a window manufacturer; and Ball, a manufacturer of canning jars. Other governmental agencies with a significant presence include the US Department of Agriculture's National Animal Disease Center.