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Ames is a city located in Story County, Iowa. As of the 2000 Census, the city had a total population of 50,731. The city was named after 19th century U.S. congressman Oakes Ames of Massachusetts, who was influential in the building of the transcontinental railroad. Ames was founded near a location that was deemed favorable for a railroad crossing of the Skunk River. It is located roughly 30 miles north of the state capital Des Moines, between the Skunk River and Squaw Creek.
Ames is the site of Iowa State University, the state's land grant university, as well as the main offices of the state Department of Transportation. Not surprisingly, state institutions are the largest employers in Ames.
Other area employers include a 3M manufacturing plant; Sauer-Danfoss, a hydraulics manufacturer; Barilla, a pasta manufacturer; Pella, a window manufacturer; and Ball, a manufacturer of canning jars and plastic bottles. Other governmental agencies with a significant presence include the United States Department of Agriculture's National Animal Disease Center.
Geography
Ames is located at 42°1'38" North, 93°37'54" West (42.027335, -93.631586).
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 55.9 km² (21.6 mi²). 55.9 km² (21.6 mi²) of it is land and 0.1 km² (0.04 mi²) of it is water. The total area is 0.09% water.
Demographics
As of the 2000 Census, there are 50,731 people, 18,085 households, and 8,970 families residing in the city. The population density is 908.1/km² (2,352.3/mi²). There are 18,757 housing units at an average density of 335.7/km² (869.7/mi²). The racial makeup of the city is 87.34% White, 7.70% Asian, 2.65% African American, 1.98% Hispanic American or Latino of any race, 0.15% Native American, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 0.76% from other races, and 1.36% from two or more races.
There are 18,085 households out of which 22.3% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 42.0% are married couples living together, 5.3% have a female householder with no husband present, and 50.4% are non-families. 28.5% of all households are made up of individuals and 5.9% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.30 and the average family size is 2.85.
In the city the population is spread out with 14.6% under the age of 18, 40.0% from 18 to 24, 23.7% from 25 to 44, 13.9% from 45 to 64, and 7.7% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 24 years. For every 100 females there are 109.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 109.9 males.
The median income for a household in the city is $36,042, and the median income for a family is $56,439. Males have a median income of $37,877 versus $28,198 for females. The per capita income for the city is $18,881. 20.4% of the population and 7.6% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total people living in poverty, 9.2% are under the age of 18 and 4.1% are 65 or older.
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