Ames

Ames is a toponym and surname with several uses in the United States. The most prominent use is Ames, Iowa, a city in central Iowa located in Story County. It is the home of Iowa State University, a public land‑grant research university founded in 1858. The city has a population in the mid‑tens of thousands and serves as a regional center for education, research, and manufacturing.

Ames Laboratory, a United States Department of Energy national laboratory operated by Iowa State University, is located in Ames. Established in 1947 as the Ames Project to produce high‑purity uranium for the Manhattan Project, the laboratory specializes in materials science, metallurgy, chemistry, and related fields and remains a major site for scientific research.

Beyond the city, Ames is used as a surname of English origin and appears in place names in the United States. The name continues to be borne by individuals and families and has a presence in historical and contemporary contexts.