City of Ames, IA

Ames offers you a place to grow. And a place you’ll never outgrow. A place to build a successful career. And lifelong friends. A place to raise strong kids, giving them an amazing education and a childhood they won’t forget. A place that one day, without you realizing it, becomes your hometown. A town where you feel like you belong. Always.

When you live in Ames, you have choices for your beverage consumption. Enjoy small batch craft brew at its best: pale ales, double IPAs, wheat beer, imperial stouts — as well as seasonals and exclusives like dry-hopped pilsners, a porter with coconut, even a stout with ancho chile pepper. What will they think of next?

There’s more to life than big box stores and strip malls. In the Main Street Cultural District you’ll find locally owned shops and boutiques, great restaurants, fun arts festivals and seasonal celebrations. The perfect place to shop — or to hang out with your neighbors.

Why are we one of the Top 10 Happiest Small Towns in America? Just look around and you’ll find 55 miles of bike trails, 1,200 acres of green space and parks, and four golf courses. Ada Hayden Heritage Park offers a nature respite right in the city. Ledges State Park is just a short drive away. A dog park, the Furman Aquatic Center, community gardens, greenbelts, etc. Breathe in the great outdoors. It smells like home.

We have a long tradition of putting our community schools first — in fact they are ranked first in Iowa. We typically lead in National Merit Scholars produced. And our test scores are way above national averages. No wonder we attract top teachers.

The university brings our community top music concerts. Broadway shows. World famous artists. Pulitzer Prize winning lecturers. Nationally ranked sports teams. And more.