Jane Smiley, Pulitzer Prize-winning novelist; former instructor at ISU (1981–1996); used ISU as the basis for her novel Moo Neal Stephenson, author, grew up in Ames Hugh Young, coauthor of University Physics textbook Lincoln Peirce, cartoonist/writer of the Big Nate comics and books Other Neva Morris, at her death (2010) second-oldest person in the world and oldest American at the age of 114 years; lived in Ames her entire life Nate Staniforth, magician Politics From 1979 through 2011, Ames was the location of the Ames Straw Poll, which was held every August prior to a presidential election year in which the Republican presidential nomination was undecided (meaning there was no Republican president running for re-election—as in 2011, 2007, 1999, 1995, 1987, and 1979). The poll would gauge support for the various Republican candidates amongst attendees of a fundraising dinner benefiting the Iowa Republican Party. The straw poll was frequently seen by national media and party insiders as a first test of organizational strength in Iowa. In 2015, the straw poll was to be moved to nearby Boone before the Iowa Republican Party eventually decided to cancel it altogether. See also Ames process North Grand Mall Reiman Gardens References External links Official Ames City Website Ames Campustown official site The Main Street Cultural District Cities in Iowa Cities in Story County, Iowa Populated places established in 1864 1864 establishments in Iowa