Maxwell, IA

Maxwell is a Story County city in the Ames metropolitan area, with the Calamus and Indian Creek valleys meeting near its original townsite. The 2020 census counted 859 residents. Collins-Maxwell Community School District serves the city, and Maxwell’s three parks, school grounds, city streets, and nearby farm roads make up a compact local map. Ames and the rest of Story County provide larger employment and services, but Maxwell keeps its own civic center and school identity.

The railroad created Maxwell. When the Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul railways chose the junction of the two valleys, residents moved toward the tracks. Baldwin, who owned land near the line, gave the ground on which the first town was platted. Buildings were moved from Iowa Center and Peoria City to the new site, and the settlement grew around the rail connection. Collins and Maxwell schools merged into one district on July 1, 1983. The railroad era has faded, but the valley junction, school district, parks, and farm country still give Maxwell its everyday shape.