BlockBefore

Ontario, Iowa

16 topographic sheets cover this place, the earliest surveyed in 1912 and the latest in 1993. It stands in Franklin Township. It lies in ZIP code area 50014. It stands on Onion Creek. The Survey maps it on the Ames West quadrangle.

Ontario within Story County

Topographic sheets covering this place

7 surveys from 16 printed sheets

Matched by testing this settlement's coordinate against the published boundary of every sheet in the United States Geological Survey's historical collection. Each opens the scanned sheet at the Survey.

Fires near this place

21 since 2009

Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The federal wildfire occurrence database lists 21 fires within 5 miles of Ontario between 2009 and 2020, burning about 89 acres in total. None started naturally. None was recorded as arson. Distance is straight-line from the map coordinates, so a fire counted here may appear on a neighbouring settlement's page as well.

Reported cause Fires
Missing data/not specified/undetermined21

The most recent of them, most recent first, with the day each was reported and the service that recorded it.

DateCause SizeReported by Name on the report
15 August 2012Missing data/not specified/undeterminedunder an acreIowa Department of Natural Resourcesnot named
12 June 2012Missing data/not specified/undetermined1.0 acresIowa Department of Natural Resourcesnot named
8 May 2011Missing data/not specified/undetermined1.0 acresIowa Department of Natural Resources615 ROOKWOD DR., AMES, IA
17 May 2014Missing data/not specified/undeterminedunder an acreIowa Department of Natural Resourcesnot named
7 April 2011Missing data/not specified/undetermined7.0 acresIowa Department of Natural Resources50809 180TH ST., GILBERT, IA
27 April 2018Missing data/not specified/undetermined1.0 acresIowa Department of Natural Resourcesnot named
2 April 2011Missing data/not specified/undeterminedunder an acreIowa Department of Natural Resources180TH & GRANT AVE, GILBERT, IA
13 April 2011Missing data/not specified/undetermined1.0 acresIowa Department of Natural Resources4943 GRANT AVE, AMES, IA

Settlements close enough to share some of these fires:

Every fire recorded in Story County

Mines and quarries near this place

7 within 5 miles

Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The federal mineral resources record lists 7 workings within 5 miles of Ontario: 4 producers, 3 past producers. 4 still produce. What was taken out: Sand and Gravel, Construction, Stone, Crushed/Broken, Bituminous, Sulfur-Pyrite. Distance is straight-line from the map coordinates, so a quarry counted here may appear on a neighbouring settlement's page as well.

Where SiteCommodity StatusRecorded
Iowa State Univ. Coal Prep. PlantBituminous, Sulfur-PyriteProducer
Onion Creek QuarriesLimestone, DimensionPast Producer
Ames MineStone, Crushed/BrokenProducer
Ames MineStone, Crushed/BrokenProducer
Ames PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionProducer
Old Roberson PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
UnknownSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer

Every working recorded in Story County

Storms near this place

60 of 66 shown

Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The National Weather Service names Ontario in 66 storm reports between 2007 and 2025: 22 hail, 20 heavy rain, 12 thunderstorm wind, 6 flood. No death or injury is recorded in these reports. Each account below is quoted exactly as the forecast office filed it, from the NOAA Storm Events Database, and each date opens the federal record of that event.

WhenEvent Place namedHarm What the report says
August 2015FloodOntario$250,000Squaw Creek at Ames Lincoln Way crested at 10.69 feet on 29 August 2015 at 5:30 PM CDT.
May 2008Flash FloodOntario$250,000Numerous roads were under water around the county, especially across the north. Lincoln Highway and E-18 were under water in places.
June 2018FloodOntario$100,000Squaw Creek at Ames Lincoln Way crested at 12.19 feet on 15 June 2018 at 10:15 UTC.
December 2015FloodOntario$50,000Squaw Creek crested at 10.36 feet on 15 December 2015 at 06:30 UTC.
March 2023HailOntario$20,000Hail caused some siding damage.
July 2016Thunderstorm WindOntario$20,000Trained spotter reported a few trees and power lines down across Ames. Also a report of a tree on a car on the west side. Time radar estimated.
August 2021LightningOntario$10,000Story County emergency manager reported lightning striking a house causing a small fire with fire department investigating to confirm.
July 2019FloodOntario$10,000Law enforcement reported flooding causing road closures across portions of the county.
May 2018HailOntario$10,000Law enforcement reported ping pong ball sized hail.
September 2016Flash FloodOntario$10,000Law enforcement reported portions of Lincoln Way and Grand Ave flooded. Other streets impacted include South Dakota and Mortensen, Arizona and Ontario and numerous other roads. Depth of water estimated to be 3 to 4 feet deep.
May 2014Thunderstorm WindOntario$10,000Trees down along Franklin Ave on the west side of Ames.
May 2008Heavy RainOntario$10,000Rainfall of 2.73 inches was measured in Ames during the past hour and one half.
May 2018HailOntario$5,000Trained spotter reported nickel sized hail, a few quarters as well.
July 2009Thunderstorm WindOntario$5,000no account filed
August 2007Thunderstorm WindOntario$5,000no account filed
May 2014Thunderstorm WindOntario$3,000Large tree limbs down.
May 2014Thunderstorm WindOntario$2,000Two to four inch limbs down at Lee Park.
July 2016Thunderstorm WindOntario$1,000Public reported 4 to 5 inch diameter tree down via social media. Delayed report and time radar estimated.
July 2008Thunderstorm WindOntario$1,000no account filed
March 2025HailOntario-Reported by mping.
March 2025HailOntario-Reported on mping.
April 2024HailOntario-Report via mping.
April 2024HailOntario-Variety of hail with largest up to quarter sized.
June 2024Thunderstorm WindOntario-Trees down on the west side of Ames. Time estimated by radar.
March 2023HailOntario-Received via email, time estimated by radar.
March 2023HailOntario-Golfball sized hail covering the ground.
March 2023HailOntario-Hail began around 250pm and lasted through 254pm CDT. Largest stones with one inch in diameter and accumulated on flat surfaces and in drifts due to strong south winds.
March 2023HailOntario-Report from mping.
March 2023HailOntario-Report from mping.
July 2023Heavy RainOntario-Event total of 3.30 inches.
October 2023Funnel CloudOntario-Video of weak funnel aloft with no apparent connection to the ground.
August 2022Heavy RainOntario-A 24 hour rainfall total of 3.02 inches.
July 2022Thunderstorm WindOntario-Large tree limbs down in west Ames. Relayed by Broadcast media.
June 2022Heavy RainOntario-A 24 hour rain total of 3.27 inches.
August 2021Thunderstorm WindOntario-Reports of numerous tree branches and some larger trees down.
July 2020Heavy RainOntario-NWS Employee reports 2.45 inches of rain over a 30 to 45 inute time period.
March 2019FloodOntario-Squaw Creek at Lincoln Way Ames crested two times during the period of flood. The first crest was 10.70 feet on 14 March 2019 at 13:30 UTC and the second crest was 10.75 feet on 14 March 2019 at 16:00 UTC.
July 2019Flash FloodOntario-Trained spotter reported the intersection South Dakota and Mortensen Rd impassable. Also noted that other areas on the west side of Ames had a lot of water.
May 2019FloodOntario-Emergency manager reported water over 500th Ave, north of Ontario Street.
May 2018HailOntario-Public reported quarter sized hail.
May 2018HailOntario-Trained spotter reported nickel sized hail along Cameron School Road in NW Ames. Report came via amateur radio.
May 2018HailOntario-Trained spotter reported nickel sized hail.
June 2018Thunderstorm WindOntario-Broadcast media reported tree down along Hyland Drive just west of Iowa State University campus. Time estimated from radar.
June 2018HailOntario-Local fire department reported ping pong ball sized hail. Time estimated from radar.
July 2018Heavy RainOntario-CoCoRaHS observer recorded heavy rainfall of 3.55 inches over the last 24 hours.
June 2018HailOntario-Public reported quarter sized hail.
July 2018Heavy RainOntario-Coop observer recorded heavy rainfall of 3.02 inches over the last 24 hours.
July 2018Heavy RainOntario-CoCoRaHS observer recorded heavy rainfall of 3.55inches over the last 24 hours.
June 2018Heavy RainOntario-CoCoRaHS observer recorded heavy rainfall of 2.79 inches.
June 2018Heavy RainOntario-An NWS employee recorded heavy rainfall of 2.73 inches.
June 2018Heavy RainOntario-NWS employee reported heavy rainfall of 3.60 inches.
June 2018Heavy RainOntario-An NWS employee reported heavy rainfall of 4.45 inches.
September 2016Heavy RainOntario-Trained spotter reported heavy rainfall of 4.02 inches. Rainfall ongoing at report time.
September 2016Heavy RainOntario-CoCoRaHS observer reported heavy rainfall of 5.41 inches over the last 24 hours.
September 2016Heavy RainOntario-NWS employee reported heavy rainfall of 3.88 inches since rain began at 8pm.
September 2016Flash FloodOntario-Broadcast media reported standing water in places with others covered with flowing water on Lincoln Way. A manhole cover was also reported blown off on Stange Road and an underpass flooded at Grand Ave.
August 2015Heavy RainOntario-Trained spotter reported heavy rainfall of 2.18 inches event total.
August 2015Heavy RainOntario-NWS employee measured heavy rainfall of 4.44 inches for 24 hour storm total.
July 2015Heavy RainOntario-Public reported heavy rainfall with a total of 1.94 inches.
August 2010Heavy RainOntario-Rainfall since 2100 CST was 3.86 inches.

Every storm recorded in Story County

Nearest settlements

The eight closest, with where each one stands in the county. Distances are straight-line, computed from the Geographic Names Information System coordinates.

Map PlaceDistance Sheets
Ames3.3 miles16
Homestead Colony4.2 miles16
Bloomington5.2 miles16
Gilbert5.2 miles16
Zenorsville5.3 miles16
Kelley5.9 miles11
Midvale8.3 miles11
Shipley9.8 miles11

Provenance

This settlement is recorded in the Geographic Names Information System as feature 459872. The sheet list is computed by point-in-boundary test against the United States Geological Survey's historical topographic inventory. Both are works of the United States government and carry no copyright under 17 U.S.C. 105.

Wildfire. Short, Karen C. 2022. Spatial wildfire occurrence data for the United States, 1992-2020 [FPA_FOD_20221014]. 6th Edition. Fort Collins, CO: Forest Service Research Data Archive. https://doi.org/10.2737/RDS-2013-0009.6 Collected with United States Government funding and usable without additional permissions or fees.

Mines and quarries. USGS Mineral Resources Data System (MRDS) https://mrdata.usgs.gov/mrds/ A work of the United States government, no copyright under 17 U.S.C. 105.

Storms. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/stormevents/ A work of the United States government, no copyright under 17 U.S.C. 105. Narratives are quoted verbatim from the National Weather Service report and are not edited or summarised.