Cambridge, IA

Cambridge is a small Story County city between Ames and Des Moines, with the Ballard school system, a central civic building, and the farm roads of central Iowa all meeting in one place. The city grew as a community along the region's rail and highway network, but today's local map is easy to read: City Center houses the library, city hall, and an events hall, while Ballard East brings an elementary school presence to the edge of town. Cambridge has the feel of a place that handles its own basics while staying tied to the larger Ames corridor.

ATTRAshton B Crew / CC BY 3.0

City services include water, sewer, garbage collection, and the everyday work of council meetings, utilities, parks, and local events. The Huxley Police Department provides law-enforcement service for both Huxley and Cambridge, another example of how nearby towns share responsibilities. Ames sits close enough for work, campus, and broader shopping, while Des Moines is the larger regional trip. Cambridge's appeal is in the arrangement: a compact civic center, a school district spread across southern Story County, and country roads that make the city feel connected without losing its small-town rhythm.