Iowa State University - Local Atmosphere

College Prowler Take

Ames is in a great location. It is small enough to avoid being intimidating, and large enough to avoid being boring. It has the charm of the country and the flair of the city. So, if you’re looking for a taste of the country, the area just north of Ames is farmland. Those looking for city life will find Des Moines appealing, which is a mere half-hour drive from Ames. Since half the population is composed of college students, there are plenty of things for students to do and see in Ames, and most of it is available at reasonable rates.

Students coming from densely populated areas, such as Chicago, may find Ames to be a boring small town. Ames may also be seen as too strict by many students—the city council passed a ban on putting indoor furniture outside. But students generally make due with what Ames has to offer, and most of the students who attend ISU are generally satisfied with Ames. If aesthetic pleasure is high on your list of priorities, Ames may be the place for you—the town is clean, beautiful, and has a lot to offer for its size. After all, it is the second most livable mid-sized city in the United States.

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Students Speak Out

ISUZR says: Iowa State University 2013 Business

I like the easy-going atmosphere.... I like the easy-going atmosphere. For the most part, there is something for everyone. I like to go on Welch during the weekends. 12345 Local Atmosphere: April 13, 2009 Report

ISUAB says: Iowa State University 2013 Communication and Journalism

Ames is boring when the students... Ames is boring when the students are gone. Basically, you can just go to bars, movies, bowling, or out to eat. For anything other than that, people go to Des Moines for things such as shopping. 12345 Local Atmosphere: April 13, 2009 Report

ISUbs says: Iowa State University 2016 Other

The city is relatively offset from... The city is relatively offset from campus, but some restaurants get heavy use, like Hickory Park. 12345 Local Atmosphere: April 01, 2009 Report

ISUTM says: Iowa State University 2014 Other

Ames is a very friendly town. You... Ames is a very friendly town. You get the best of both worlds because it is somewhat a city but also country. Everyone in the community is willing to help you, and the City of Ames and ISU have a very good relationship. We have a great downtown area with cute shops and lots of culture. There are so many things to do in the town and nothing really is too bad. 12345 Local Atmosphere: March 12, 2009 Report

Anonymous says:

ISU is the biggest part of Ames,... ISU is the biggest part of Ames, and the town gets its identity from the University. Near campus, Ames is a total college town. On the weekends, the streets near campus are full of wandering bar-hoppers and party-goers; during the week, Campustown is a convenient place for food and shopping. There are lots of good parks, and the Frisbee-golf course is a nice place to walk around, even if you aren’t playing. Downtown Ames has some great shops and restaurants too, and the mall isn’t bad. 12345 Local Atmosphere Report

Facts

Did You Know?

Fun Facts about Ames:
• Ames was founded in 1864 by John Blair, who named the town after his friend, Oakes Ames, who never lived in the town.
• According to the New Rating Guide to Life in America’s Small Cities by Kevin Heubusch, Ames is ranked the second most livable mid-sized city in the United States
• BestJobsUSA.com cited Ames as one of the 20 best places in America to live and work. Ames was also voted the 20th best place to live in America by Men’s Journal. On top of that, Ames was ranked the 6th best small city in which to do business by bizjournals.com.
• Ames has over 32 city parks.

Famous People From Iowa:
Ashton Kutcher (actor) – Cedar Rapids
Ann Landers (journalist) – Sioux City
Cloris Leachman (actress) – Des Moines
Slipknot (rock band) – Des Moines
Billy Sunday (evangelist, reverand) – Ames
Abigail Van Buren (Dear Abby) – Sioux City
John Wayne (actor, gunslinger) – Winterset
Elijah Wood (actor) – Cedar Rapids

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