Living in Ames, OK: what to set up and who to call
The Ames water system reported 5 health-based violations to EPA in the last five years: arsenic ×5. 77% of systems its size reported none. Most of Ames has one wired internet choice: Pioneer Telephone Cooperative.
I’m new in town
What to set up in Ames, and who provides it. Tap an answer for the details and where they come from.
Power, water and internet
Who to call to start service at a new address in Ames.
Power comes from OG&E
OG&E (Oklahoma Gas & Electric Co.), an investor-owned utility, serves all of Ames. Its homes paid an average of 12.5¢ per kWh in 2025, about $131 a month (its average across Oklahoma).
Service territory: HIFLD Electric Retail Service Territories (map dated Aug 2023). Prices and customers: EIA-861, 2025.
Water comes from Ames water system
The Ames water system supplies almost all of Ames. It draws ground water (EPA lists Enid as seller) and serves 199 people in all.
5 health-based violations reported to EPA in the five years to October 2026: arsenic ×5, the latest beginning Jan 2025. 77% of the 15,074 systems serving 101–500 people had none.
The latest lead result on file, the 90th percentile of homes sampled in Jan 2023–Dec 2025, was 1.3 ppb, below the 15 ppb action level that applied. The highest in five years was 6.9 ppb. That’s higher than 62% of similar systems’ latest results.
The system’s full record: EPA ECHO report
EPA SDWIS via Envirofacts (violations pulled Oct 9, 2026) and ECHO (lead samples, 2026Q3); service area: EPA Community Water System Service Area Boundaries v3.0. Violations are counted by the start of their compliance period. OK2004403.
5 home internet providers serve Ames
11% of 133 addresses can get 100/20 Mbps; 0% can get fiber.
| Provider | Technology | Addresses | Fastest (Mbps) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pioneer Telephone Cooperative | DSL | 89% | 46/7 |
| Chisholm Broadband | Fixed wireless | 88% | 100/40 |
| Verizon | Fixed wireless | 30% | 300/20 |
| Nextlink | Fixed wireless | 24% | 100/20 |
| AT&T | Fixed wireless | 2% | 25/3 |
FCC National Broadband Map, as of December 2025. Availability as providers report it, not speeds people get.
We don’t have Ames’ trash rules yet
Pickup rules, the dump and recycling in Ames.
Where your child goes to school
Public school districts and the school path by grade.
Ames is in Cimarron Public Schools.
Test scores and every school: see Schools →U.S. Department of Education, NCES Common Core of Data, 2024–25. Enrollment rules and registration are the district’s.
Town hall and registering to vote
Who to call, and how to register.
Election office: FVAP local election office directory, updated Feb 2018; jurisdictions: EAC EAVS 2024. Registration rules and links: vote.gov, updated Sep 12, 2025.
Ames is in ZIP code 73718
ZIP codes where Ames residents live, with the share of the town in each.
| ZIP | Post office name | Share of Ames | ZIP’s residents in Ames |
|---|---|---|---|
| 73718 | Ames, OK | 100% | 36% |
Census 2020 ZIP Code Tabulation Areas, by census block; post office names: GeoNames (CC BY 4.0). ZIPs created since 2020 are missing.
Getting around, the ER and the library
One line each; the subject pages have the rest.
ER: CMS hospital data. Library: IMLS Public Libraries Survey, FY2024.
Questions about living in Ames
Who supplies Ames’ drinking water, and has it had violations?
The Ames water system (EPA ID OK2004403). It reported 5 health-based violations to EPA in the five years to October 2026: arsenic ×5. 77% of systems its size had none. Its latest lead 90th percentile was 1.3 ppb (Jan 2023–Dec 2025), against a 15 ppb action level.
Who provides electricity in Ames?
OG&E (Oklahoma Gas & Electric Co.), an investor-owned utility. Its homes paid about 12.5¢ per kWh in 2025 (EIA).
What internet providers serve Ames?
Pioneer Telephone Cooperative, Chisholm Broadband, Verizon, Nextlink, AT&T (FCC, as of December 2025).
What ZIP codes are in Ames?
73718. Census 2020 ZIP Code Tabulation Areas.
What school district is Ames in?
Cimarron Public Schools.
How do I register to vote in Ames?
In Oklahoma you can register online until 25 days before Election Day, in person until 25 days before Election Day, or by mail (received 25 days before). Elections here are run by the Secretary, Major County Election Board. Check your registration at okvoterportal.okelections.us.
Sources & dates
Every answer above names its source. Here they are with their dates.
- Water: EPA SDWIS (Envirofacts, pulled Oct 9, 2026), ECHO SDWA 2026Q3, EPA CWS Service Area Boundaries v3.0.
- Power: HIFLD Electric Retail Service Territories (map Aug 2023); EIA-861 final 2025.
- Trash: OpenStreetMap, Geofabrik extract of Oct 9, 2026. © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL).
- ZIP codes: Census 2020 ZCTA relationship files; GeoNames postal codes (CC BY 4.0).
- Schools: NCES Common Core of Data, 2024–25.
- Registration: vote.gov, updated Sep 12, 2025 (read Oct 10, 2026). Official sites and area codes: Wikidata.
- Election office: FVAP local election office directory (fetched Oct 10, 2026; each record dated), EAC EAVS 2024 jurisdictions; registration and lookup links from vote.gov’s state data, checked Oct 10, 2026.
- Internet: FCC National Broadband Map, as of December 2025.