About
Ogden is nestled in the heart of Boone County. A community of 2,000 people, it is a quick 25 miles from Ames and 45 miles from Des Moines making it easy for Ogden residents to travel to big city amenities and return home to a small town where neighbors are friends.
Ogden celebrates its rich history and works to maintain small-town values. The town was laid out by the railroad In 1866 and Ogden’s main street was part of the famous Lincoln Highway; the first highway to to cross the continent from New York City to San Fransisco. Today, Ogden’s downtown has the look and feel of those early days and offers goods and services for the community. Dive deeper into Ogden's history.
Ogden seeks out opportunities to grow, prosper and move forward. The local economic development group, Ogden Legacy, works hard to help local businesses learn and grow. Ogden Legacy also sponsors great promotions like Ogden Fun Days, City-Wide Garage Sales, Oktoberfest and the Christmas on Main celebration.
Ogden offers nice housing options, has a vital business district, a local utility and telephone company and the security of a small town. The community is extremely proud of its schools including Ogden Elementary and the Ogden Middle/High School. The City of Ogden provides modern services as well with an attractive city hall, a well equipped Fire Department and a well appointed library. The City also provides a spacious community center for corporate meetings, reunions and wedding receptions.
Ogden is blessed with many scenic recreational opportunities. In town, any residents can enjoy the City Park- complete with a bandshell, two covered and one enclosed shelter, children’s play equipment, a basketball court & lots of room to spread out. There is also a recreational trail that connects Lincoln Prairie Park to the Community Center and the Ogden High School, meandering through a prairie wildflower area. Outside of town, area residents can enjoy a beautiful lake, modern campgrounds, golf and disc golf at Don Williams Recreational Area. Also near is Ogden is Seven Oaks Recreation offering skiing in the winter, a “Gladiator Assault Challenge” in the spring and hiking and canoeing in the summer and fall. Seven Oaks also makes for a great event venue! A short drive will take travelers to Battin Heritage Park, which features three historic buildings over 135 years old, all built in Boone County: Battin Chapel, Berkley Railroad Depot, and Hickory Grove School. The iconic Kate Shelley High Bridge is a short distance from the Battin Heritage Park.
Contact Us!
Ogden is proud of its small town and welcomes you to visit soon! For more information, contact Ogden City Hall at info@ogdeniowa.org or Ogden Legacy at ogden.legacy@gmail.com.
The City of Ogden's History
Construction of the railroad, after pausing on the east side of the Des Moines River, continued its westward advance up out of the river valley and onto the prairie in the spring of 1866. It was a general rule that railroad surveyors would select a town site every 8-10 miles in order to be accessible to farmers and settlers who were yet to come. The town was mapped out and was named after the prominent railroad builder William Butler Ogden. The railroad depot was built in 1868.
- In 1907, the first coal mine shaft was dug north of Ogden. It provided jobs for an estimated 300 people at one time. The coal industry closed down in 1953.
- In 1912, the idea was conceived to build America’s first coast-to-coast automobile road. This road came to be known as the Lincoln Highway and passed through Ogden’s business district. The highway was paved in 1929.
- In 1934, Ogden Compressor Plant (Northern Natural Gas) was built. The plant at one time employed over 300 people.
Today, Ogden still maintains a thriving small town retail district. Northern Natural Gas plant continues in operation, while nearby ethanol and seed processing plants have boosted the already strong farming community.
