Iowa State's home is AMES, a city in the state of Iowa. It is located approximately 30 miles north of Des Moines, the state capital. AMES is the largest city in Story County and is home to Iowa State University, which is the state's largest public university. The city was founded in 1864 as a station stop on the Cedar Rapids and Missouri Railroad and was named after 19th century U.S. Congressman Oakes AMES of Massachusetts.