Editing Ottumwa, Iowa

{{Use mdy dates|date=December 2020}}
{{Infobox settlement
| official_name      = Ottumwa, Iowa
| settlement_type    = [[List of cities in Iowa|City]]
| nickname           = City of Bridges<ref name=COHC>{{cite web|url=https://www.ottumwa.us/files/ottumwas_historic_treasures.pdf|title=History of Wapello County|date=September 2013|access-date=December 26, 2020|publisher= City of Ottumwa Historic Preservation Commission}}</ref><br/>Video Game Capital of the World<ref name=VC/>
| image_skyline      = Ottumwa Collage Photos.jpg
| imagesize          = 
| image_caption      = Clockwise from top left: [[Ottumwa City Hall]] (Federal Building), St. Mary of the Visitation Catholic Church, Market Street Bridge and Bridge View Center, and [[Ottumwa High School]]
| image_map          = Wapello_County_Iowa_Incorporated_and_Unincorporated_areas_Ottumwa_Highlighted.svg
| mapsize            = 250px
| map_caption        = Location of Ottumwa in the State of Iowa
| image_map1         = 
| mapsize1           = 
| map_caption1       = 
| subdivision_type   = Country
| subdivision_name   = {{US}}
| subdivision_type1  = [[U.S. state|State]]
| subdivision_name1  = {{flag|Iowa}}
| subdivision_type2  = [[List of counties in Iowa|County]]
| subdivision_name2  = [[Wapello County, Iowa|Wapello]]
| government_type    = Mayor/Council
| leader_title       = Mayor
| leader_name        = Rick Johnson<ref>{{cite web |last1=Monaghan |first1=Eric |title=Johnson is Ottumwa's next mayor; Pope, Galloway, McAntire will join City Council |url=https://www.kyoutv.com/2021/11/03/johnson-is-ottumwas-next-mayor-pope-galloway-mcantire-will-join-city-council/ |publisher=KYOU News |access-date=18 December 2023 |date=21 November 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Government |url=https://www.ottumwa.us/government/ |website=City of Ottumwa |access-date=18 December 2023}}</ref>
| established_date   = 1843<ref name=COHC/>
| population_as_of   = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
| population_est     = 
| pop_est_as_of      = 
| pop_est_footnotes  = 
| population_footnotes = 
| population_total   = 25529
| population_density_km2 = 613.71
| population_density_sq_mi = 1589.50
| population_rank    = [[List of largest Iowa cities by population|18th]] in Iowa
| timezone           = [[Central Time Zone|Central]]
| utc_offset         = &minus;6
| timezone_DST       = CDT
| utc_offset_DST     = &minus;5
| unit_pref          = Imperial
| area_footnotes     = <ref name="CenPopGazetteer2020">{{cite web|title=2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2020_Gazetteer/2020_gaz_place_19.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=March 16, 2022}}</ref>
| area_total_km2     = 43.32
| area_land_km2      = 41.60
| area_water_km2     = 1.73
| area_total_sq_mi   = 16.73
| area_land_sq_mi    = 16.06
| area_water_sq_mi   = 0.67
| elevation_footnotes = <ref name=gnis/>
| elevation_ft       = 650
| coordinates        = {{Coord|41|01|10|N|92|25|07|W|region:US-IA_type:city(26,000)|display=inline,title}}
| postal_code_type   = [[ZIP Code]]
| postal_code        = 52501
| area_code          = [[Area code 641|641]]
| blank_name         = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
| blank_info         = 19-60465
| blank1_name        = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
| blank1_info        = 2396110<ref name=gnis>{{GNIS|2396110}}</ref>
| website            = {{URL|ottumwa.us}}
| footnotes          = 
| native_name        = 
| native_name_lang   = 
}}

'''Ottumwa''' ({{IPAc-en|ə|ˈ|t|ʌ|m|w|ə}} {{respell|ə|TUM|wə}}) is a [[List of cities in Iowa|city]] in and the [[county seat]] of [[Wapello County, Iowa]], United States.<ref name="GR6">{{cite web |url=http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx |access-date=June 7, 2011|title=Find a County |publisher=National Association of Counties}}</ref> The population was 25,529 at the time of the [[2020 United States census|2020 U.S. Census]].<ref name=cen2020>{{cite web |title=2020 Census State Redistricting Data |url=https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial/2020/data/01-Redistricting_File--PL_94-171/Iowa/ |publisher=United states Census Bureau |access-date=12 August 2021}}</ref> Located in the state's southeastern section, the city is split into northern and southern halves by the [[Des Moines River]].

==History==
[[Image:OttumwaMines.png|thumb|Map of Ottumwa from 1908, showing the railroads and coal mines (red) of the region]]
[[File:East 300 block of Main Street, (1900), Ottumwa, Iowa, United States..jpg|alt=Main Street, Ottumwa, Iowa|thumb|East 300 block of Main Street, 1900]]

The city's name derives from the Native American [[Meskwaki]] language, translating to "tumbling waters" in reference to the Appanoose Rapids on the Des Moines River.<ref name=WCHS>{{cite web|url=https://wapellocounty.org/resident-information/wapello-county-history|title="Wapello County History Society"|access-date=January 30, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.beforetime.net/iowagenealogy/wapello/WapelloHistory/WapelloCountyHistory.html|title="Wapello County History"|access-date=January 30, 2021}}</ref>

In May 1843, several investors formed the Appanoose Rapids Company and staked claim to 467 acres of land in the present site of Ottumwa. Their [[colonization]] involved claiming land supporting three [[Indigenous peoples of the Americas|indigenous]] settlements. The first official cabin was built in May 1843 after the area was opened to settlement (an earlier cabin built in defiance of this date was destroyed by Army troops at that time). The original platt was titled Louis Ville.<ref name=Britannica>{{cite web|url=https://www.britannica.com/place/Ottumwa |title=Ottumwa, Iowa|quote=Originally called Appanoose Rapids, the name was changed to Louisville and Ottumwanoc before being shortened to Ottumwa. Ottumwa is said to be derived from an Algonquian (Fox) word meaning “rippling waters,” although it may simply mean “town.”|publisher=Britannica|access-date=December 26, 2020}}</ref> In 1844 the city was named as the county seat.<ref name=COHC/>

The town was severely damaged during the [[flood of 1851]].<ref>{{Cite book|last=Aldrich|first=Charles|title=The Annals Of Iowa|publisher=Historical Department of Iowa|year = 1903|location=Des Moines, Iowa|page=411|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=mrcTAAAAYAA}}</ref>

In 1857, coal was being mined from the McCready bank, a site along Bear Creek four miles west of Ottumwa. In 1868, Brown and Godfrey opened a [[drift mining|drift mine]] four miles northwest of town. By 1872, Brown and Godfrey employed 300 men and had an annual production of 77,000&nbsp;tons. In 1880, the Phillips Coal and Mining Company opened a [[coal mine|mine]] two miles northwest of town. In subsequent years, they opened 5 more [[shaft mining|shafts]] in the Phillips and Rutledge neighborhoods, just north of Ottumwa.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Lees|first=James H.|title=History of Coal Mining in Iowa|publisher=Iowa Geological Survey|year=1909|location=Des Moines|page=541|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1BUMAAAAYAAJ}}</ref> The Phillips number 5 shaft was {{convert|140|ft|m|abbr=off|sp=us}} deep, with a 375-HP steam [[hoist (mining)|hoist]].<ref>{{Cite book|last=Hinds|first=Henry|title=The Coal Deposits of Iowa|publisher=Iowa Geological Survey|year=1909|location=Des Moines|page=298|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1BUMAAAAYAAJ}}</ref> By 1889, the state mine inspector's report listed 15 mine shafts in Ottumwa.<ref>{{Cite book|title=Fourth Biennial Report Of The State Mine Inspectors To The Governor Of The State Of Iowa For The Years 1888 And 1889|year=1889|location=Des Moines|page=33|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=PRAAAAAAMAAJ}}</ref> In 1914, the Phillips Fuel Company produced over 100,000&nbsp;tons of coal, ranking among the top 24 coal producers in the state.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Saward|first=Frederick E.|title=The Coal Trade|year=1915|page=65|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=NO8oAAAAYAAJ}}</ref> Coal mining was so important to the local economy that, from 1890 to 1892, the [[Coal Palace]] was erected in Ottumwa as an [[exhibition center]].

[[John Morrell & Company]] and their meat packing comples played a significant role in the development of Ottumwa from 1877 to 1973.<ref>{{cite web|title=John Morrell & Company Meat Packing Plant, 316 South Iowa Street, Ottumwa, Wapello County, IA|url=https://www.loc.gov/pictures/item/ia0206/|website=Loc.gov}}</ref>

When the Burlington and Missouri River Railroad arrived in Ottumwa in September 1859, it ran parallel to the river channel. The availability of rail transportation encouraged both commercial and industrial expansion along the northwest to southeast axis. Access to the south bank of the river at first was by ferry from the foot of Green Street. By 1875 this ferry had been replaced by a bridge, and a number of additions had been made to the city during the first thirty years, all located on the north side of the Des Moines River. As development (almost exclusively residential) climbed the bluffs, the streets on top of the hills were laid out to compass points, rather than parallel to the river. Although there was some development on the south side of the river, '''South Ottumwa''' was not brought into the city limits until the 1880s.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nps.gov/nr/feature/places/pdfs/16000365.pdf|title=Greater Second Street Historic District, Ottumwa, Iowa|date=April 2016|page=14|access-date=December 26, 2020}}</ref>

===Presidential visits===
Visits by a sitting U.S. president include:
* [[Benjamin Harrison]] in 1890; toured the Coal Palace and spoke to a crowd of over 40,000.<ref name="fsphvo">{{cite web|last=Toopes|first=Cindy|url=http://ottumwacourier.com/local/x1687721558/Four-sitting-presidents-have-visited-Ottumwa|title=Four sitting presidents have visited Ottumwa|publisher=Ottumwa Courier|date=April 23, 2010|access-date=December 19, 2010}}</ref>
* [[Theodore Roosevelt]] in 1903; made a brief train stop while travelling the United States.<ref name="fsphvo"/>
* [[Harry Truman]] in 1950; while on a 16-state train trip in support of his [[Fair Deal]].<ref name="fsphvo"/>
* [[Richard Nixon]] in 1971; arrived in [[Air Force One]] at the Ottumwa Industrial Airport to dedicate the nearby [[Rathbun Lake]] dam and reservoir.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nwk.usace.army.mil/ra/History.cfm |title=Rathbun Lake |work=US Army Corps of Engineers, Kansas City District |access-date=December 18, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100920021053/http://www.nwk.usace.army.mil/ra/History.cfm |archive-date=September 20, 2010 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Nixon had been stationed at the Ottumwa airport while serving in the U.S. Navy during World War II.<ref name="bormn">{{cite web|url=http://nixon.archives.gov/thelife/nixonbio.pdf|title=Biography of Richard Milhous Nixon|publisher=Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum|page=1|access-date=December 19, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150921204555/http://nixon.archives.gov/thelife/nixonbio.pdf|archive-date=September 21, 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref>
* [[Barack Obama]] in 2010; spoke at [[Indian Hills Community College]].<ref name="pcrov">{{cite web|last=Shaver|first=Pat|url=http://ottumwacourier.com/local/x1901489014/Participants-crowd-relish-Obama-visit|title=Participants, crowd relish Obama visit|publisher=Ottumwa Courier|date=April 28, 2010|access-date=December 19, 2010}}</ref>

==Geography==

According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the city has a total area of {{convert|16.53|sqmi|sqkm|2}}, of which {{convert|15.86|sqmi|sqkm|2}} is land and {{convert|0.67|sqmi|sqkm|2}} is water.<ref>{{cite web|title=US Gazetteer files 2010|url=https://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/files/Gaz_places_national.txt|publisher=US Census Bureau|access-date=May 11, 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120702145235/http://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/files/Gaz_places_national.txt|archive-date=July 2, 2012}}</ref>

Northeastern Wapello County contains large deposits of coal, and there are also large deposits of clay in the region, which played an important role in the industrial development of Ottumwa.<ref name=COHC/>

Ottumwa is the center of the Ottumwa [[Micropolitan statistical area|Micropolitan Statistical Area]] which includes all of [[Wapello County, Iowa|Wapello County]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Ottumwa, IA Micropolitan Statistical Area IA Demographic Data and Boundary Map |url=https://iowa.hometownlocator.com/cities/msa/msa,id,36900.cfm |access-date=2022-08-03 |website=iowa.hometownlocator.com}}</ref>

===Climate===

According to the [[Köppen Climate Classification]] system, Ottumwa has a [[hot-summer humid continental climate]], abbreviated "Dfa" on climate maps.

{{Weather box 
|location = [[Ottumwa Regional Airport]], Iowa (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1948–present)
|single line = Yes
|width = auto
|Jan record high F = 71
|Feb record high F = 79
|Mar record high F = 88
|Apr record high F = 91
|May record high F = 97
|Jun record high F = 103
|Jul record high F = 106
|Aug record high F = 105
|Sep record high F = 100
|Oct record high F = 93
|Nov record high F = 79
|Dec record high F = 75
|year record high F = 106

|Jan avg record high F = 54.8
|Feb avg record high F = 59.0
|Mar avg record high F = 73.2
|Apr avg record high F = 83.0
|May avg record high F = 87.9
|Jun avg record high F = 92.2
|Jul avg record high F = 94.9
|Aug avg record high F = 94.4
|Sep avg record high F = 90.6
|Oct avg record high F = 83.5
|Nov avg record high F = 70.4
|Dec avg record high F = 58.6
|year avg record high F = 96.8

|Jan high F = 32.0
|Feb high F = 36.8
|Mar high F = 50.2
|Apr high F = 62.8
|May high F = 72.9
|Jun high F = 82.2
|Jul high F = 85.7
|Aug high F = 84.0
|Sep high F = 77.3
|Oct high F = 64.2
|Nov high F = 49.7
|Dec high F = 37.2
|year high F = 61.3

|Jan mean F = 22.9
|Feb mean F = 27.4
|Mar mean F = 39.6
|Apr mean F = 51.1
|May mean F = 62.0
|Jun mean F = 71.6
|Jul mean F = 75.1
|Aug mean F = 73.0
|Sep mean F = 65.3
|Oct mean F = 52.9
|Nov mean F = 39.6
|Dec mean F = 28.4
|year mean F = 50.7

|Jan low F = 13.8
|Feb low F = 18.0
|Mar low F = 28.9
|Apr low F = 39.4
|May low F = 51.0
|Jun low F = 61.0
|Jul low F = 64.5
|Aug low F = 62.0
|Sep low F = 53.3
|Oct low F = 41.6
|Nov low F = 29.5
|Dec low F = 19.7
|year low F = 40.2

|Jan avg record low F = -7.9
|Feb avg record low F = -2.3
|Mar avg record low F = 8.0
|Apr avg record low F = 23.5
|May avg record low F = 36.4
|Jun avg record low F = 48.7
|Jul avg record low F = 55.0
|Aug avg record low F = 52.0
|Sep avg record low F = 38.1
|Oct avg record low F = 24.9
|Nov avg record low F = 12.2
|Dec avg record low F = -1.1
|year avg record low F = -11.9

|Jan record low F = −23
|Feb record low F = −27
|Mar record low F = −20
|Apr record low F = 9
|May record low F = 24
|Jun record low F = 41
|Jul record low F = 48
|Aug record low F = 41
|Sep record low F = 27
|Oct record low F = 17
|Nov record low F = −9
|Dec record low F = −21
|year record low F = −27

|precipitation colour = green
|Jan precipitation inch = 1.01
|Feb precipitation inch = 1.41
|Mar precipitation inch = 2.24
|Apr precipitation inch = 3.75
|May precipitation inch = 5.03
|Jun precipitation inch = 5.38
|Jul precipitation inch = 3.87
|Aug precipitation inch = 4.44
|Sep precipitation inch = 3.50
|Oct precipitation inch = 2.81
|Nov precipitation inch = 2.09
|Dec precipitation inch = 1.44
|year precipitation inch = 36.97

|Jan snow inch = 7.1
|Feb snow inch = 5.8
|Mar snow inch = 3.0
|Apr snow inch = 1.4
|May snow inch = 0.0
|Jun snow inch = 0.0
|Jul snow inch = 0.0
|Aug snow inch = 0.0
|Sep snow inch = 0.0
|Oct snow inch = 0.5
|Nov snow inch = 1.6
|Dec snow inch = 4.2
|year snow inch = 23.6

|unit precipitation days = 0.01 in
|Jan precipitation days = 7.1
|Feb precipitation days = 7.4
|Mar precipitation days = 9.6
|Apr precipitation days = 11.7
|May precipitation days = 13.1
|Jun precipitation days = 11.3
|Jul precipitation days = 9.1
|Aug precipitation days = 9.2
|Sep precipitation days = 7.9
|Oct precipitation days = 8.5
|Nov precipitation days = 7.5
|Dec precipitation days = 6.9
|year precipitation days = 109.3

|unit snow days = 0.1 in
|Jan snow days = 5.7
|Feb snow days = 3.9
|Mar snow days = 2.1
|Apr snow days = 0.8
|May snow days = 0.0
|Jun snow days = 0.0
|Jul snow days = 0.0
|Aug snow days = 0.0
|Sep snow days = 0.0
|Oct snow days = 0.4
|Nov snow days = 1.2
|Dec snow days = 3.0
|year snow days = 17.1

| source 1 = [[NOAA]]<ref name= nws >
{{cite web
| url = https://w2.weather.gov/climate/xmacis.php?wfo=dmx
| title = NowData – NOAA Online Weather Data
| publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
| access-date = June 27, 2021}}</ref><ref name=NCEI>
{{cite web
| url = https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly-1991-2020&startDate=0001-01-01&endDate=9996-12-31&stations=USW00014950&format=pdf
| title = Station: Ottumwa Industrial AP, IA
| work = U.S. Climate Normals 2020: U.S. Monthly Climate Normals (1991&ndash;2020)
| publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
| access-date = June 27, 2021}}</ref>
}}

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1860= 1632
|1870= 5214
|1880= 9004
|1890= 14001
|1900= 18197
|1910= 22012
|1920= 23003
|1930= 28075
|1940= 31570
|1950= 33631
|1960= 33871
|1970= 29610
|1980= 27381
|1990= 24488
|2000= 24998
|2010= 25023
|2020= 25529
|footnote=US Decennial Census<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=Census of Population and Housing|publisher=Census.gov|access-date=June 4, 2015}}</ref><ref name=cen2020/>
}}
[[Image:Wapello County, Iowa Courthouse.jpg|thumb|[[Wapello County Courthouse]]]]

===2020 census===
As of the [[United States census|census]] of 2020,<ref>{{cite web |title=2020 Census |url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census/decade/2020/2020-census-main.html |publisher=United States Census Bureau}}</ref> there were 25,529 people, 10,098 households, and 6,048 families residing in the city. The [[population density]] was 1,589.5 inhabitants per square mile (613.7/km<sup>2</sup>). There were 11,254 housing units at an average density of 700.7 per square mile (270.5/km<sup>2</sup>). The [[Race and ethnicity in the United States census|racial]] makeup of the city was 74.3% [[White Americans|White]], 5.4% [[African Americans|Black or African American]], 0.8% [[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]], 2.3% [[Asian Americans|Asian]], 2.0% [[Pacific Islander Americans|Pacific Islander]], 8.6% from other races and 6.7% from two or more races. [[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Hispanic or Latino]] persons of any race comprised 15.7% of the population.

Of the 10,098 households, 30.8% of which had children under the age of 18 living with them, 39.6% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 8.5% were cohabitating couples, 30.6% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present and 21.4% had a male householder with no spouse or partner present. 40.1% of all households were non-families. 33.1% of all households were made up of individuals, 14.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years old or older.

The median age in the city was 36.7 years. 27.9% of the residents were under the age of 20; 6.3% were between the ages of 20 and 24; 26.0% were from 25 and 44; 22.9% were from 45 and 64; and 17.0% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 49.5% male and 50.5% female.

===2010 census===
As of the [[2010 United States Census]]<ref name="wwwcensusgov">{{cite web|title=U.S. Census website|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=US Census Bureau|access-date=May 11, 2012}}</ref> there were 25,023 people, 10,251 households, and 6,208 families in the city. The population density was {{convert|1577.7|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|1}}. There were 11,257 housing units at an average density of {{convert|709.8|/sqmi|/km2|1}}. The racial makeup of the city was 90.2% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 4.06% [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]], 1.6% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.6% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 0.9% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.2% [[Race (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], 4.5% from [[Race (U.S. Census)|other races]], and 1.8% from two or more races.

There were 10,251 households, of which 30.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 42.1% were married couples living together, 12.9% had a female householder with no husband present, 5.6% had a male householder with no wife present, and 39.4% were non-families. 32.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.36 and the average family size was 2.97.

The median age in the city was 37.4 years. 23.3% of residents were under the age of 18; 10.8% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 24.8% were from 25 to 44; 25% were from 45 to 64; and 16% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 48.4% male and 51.6% female.

===2000 census===
As of the [[2000 United States Census]], there were 24,998 people, 10,383 households, and 6,530 families residing in the city. The population density was {{convert|1,582.2|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 11,038 housing units at an average density of {{convert|698.6|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of the city was 95.33% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 1.27% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.33% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 0.78% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.02% [[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], 1.38% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 0.89% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 2.76% of the population.

There were 10,383 households, out of which 28.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.8% were married couples living together, 11.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.1% were non-families. 31.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.8% had someone living alone who was 65&nbsp;years of age or older. The average household size was 2.31 and the average family size was 2.88.

Age spread: 22.9% under the age of 18, 10.9% from 18 to 24, 26.1% from 25 to 44, 21.2% from 45 to 64, and 19.0% who were 65&nbsp;years of age or older. The median age was 38&nbsp;years. For every 100 females, there were 92.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.6 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $30,174, and the median income for a family was $37,302. Males had a median income of $31,222 versus $20,934 for females. The per capita income for the city was $16,040. About 10.9% of families and 15.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 21.3% of those under age 18 and 8.2% of those age 65 or over.

==Economy==

===Top employers===
According to Ottumwa's 2023 Annual Comprehensive Financial Report,<ref>{{cite web |title=City of Ottumwa ACFR |url=https://www.ottumwa.us/files/2023_fiscal_year_end_audit_report.pdf}}</ref> the top employers in the city were:

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! #
! Employer
! # of Employees
|-
| 1
| JBS Live Pork, LLC (subsidiary of [[JBS USA]])
|2,550
|-
|2
| [[Ottumwa Community School District]]
|800
|-
|3
| Ottumwa Regional Health Center
|692
|-
|4
| [[John Deere]] Ottumwa Works
|550
|-
|5
| Winger Companies
|449
|-
|6
| [[Indian Hills Community College]]
|369
|-
|7
| [[Hy-Vee]]
|350
|-
|8
| [[Walmart]] Supercenter
|301
|-
|9
| City of Ottumwa
|224
|-
|10
| [[Keurig Dr Pepper]]
|200
|}

The [[Quincy Place Mall]] is a Shopping mall in Ottumwa.

==Arts and culture==
[[File:101 Vogel Place.jpeg|thumb|Vogel Place Historic District]]
[[File:Hotel Ottumwa, Ottumwa, Iowa.JPG|thumb|Hotel Ottumwa]]
[[File:Ottumwa Public Library.JPG|thumb|Ottumwa Public Carnegie Library]]

===Historic districts===
* [[Historic Railroad District]]
* [[Fifth Street Bluff Historic District]]
* [[Ottumwa Cemetery]]
* [[Court Hill Historic District]]
* [[Vogel Place Historic District]]
* [[North Fellows Historic District]]

===Historic structures===
{{colbegin|colwidth=22em}}
* [[First National Bank (Ottumwa, Iowa)|First National Bank Building 1915]]
* [[Hotel Ottumwa]]
* Hoffman Building
* [[Benson Building (Ottumwa, Iowa)|Benson Building 1930]]
* [[B'nai Jacob Synagogue (Ottumwa, Iowa)|B'nai Jacob Synagogue]]
* [[Foster/Bell House]]
* [[Trinity Episcopal Church (Ottumwa, Iowa)|Trinity Episcopal Church]]
* [[Benson Block]]
* [[Ottumwa (Amtrak station)|Burlington Depot]]
* [[J.W. Garner Building]]
* [[Jay Funeral Home]]
* [[Jefferson Street Viaduct]]
* [[Ottumwa Public Library]]
* [[St. Mary of the Visitation Catholic Church (Ottumwa, Iowa)|St. Mary of the Visitation Catholic Church]]
* [[Ottumwa City Hall]]
* [[Wapello County Courthouse]]
* [[Ottumwa Young Women's Christian Association]]
{{colend}}

===Video Games===
[[Twin Galaxies]], a social media platform, is located in Ottumwa.  For this reason, Ottumwa's mayor proclaimed the city the "Video Game Capital of the World" in 1982.<ref name=VC>{{cite web |last = Kalning | first= Kristin|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/id/30588831 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151007143205/http://www.nbcnews.com/id/30588831/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=October 7, 2015 |title=Ottumwa, video game capital of the world? - On the Level- NBC News | date= May 6, 2009|publisher=NBC News |access-date=June 14, 2010 }}</ref> The city's proclamation was recognized by U.S. Senator [[Charles Grassley]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.twingalaxies.com/index.aspx?c=18&id=1384 |title=Congratulations on becoming "Video Game Capital" | publisher=www.twingalaxies.com |access-date=June 14, 2010}}</ref> The city hosted the first North American Video Olympics in 1982.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.twingalaxies.com/images/generalinfo/navgo.gif |title=1982 North American Video Game Olympics program cover (GIF Image, 370x574 pixels) |publisher=www.twingalaxies.com |access-date=June 14, 2010 }}</ref> In 2009,  an [[International Video Game Hall of Fame]] was planned.{{citation needed|date=September 2024}}

==Education==
===Public School System===

The city of Ottumwa and the surrounding rural areas of [[Wapello County, Iowa|Wapello County]] are served by the [[Ottumwa Community School District]].

Ottumwa is served by [[Ottumwa High School]], Evans Junior High, and multiple neighborhood elementary schools including Douma and Liberty on the Southern side of the city, and James, Horace Mann, Wilson, Eisenhower, and Fahrney Elementary serving the Northern side.

===Higher education===
Ottumwa is the home of [[Indian Hills Community College]], a two-year community college. Between 1928 and 1980, it was also home to [[Ottumwa Heights College]], a women's college that merged with Indian Hills in 1979 to create one institution. Indian Hills is located at the former Ottumwa Heights campus.  [[Buena Vista University]] has a regional campus located here.

==Media==
[[File:20120527 079 Ottumwa, Iowa.jpg|thumb|Ottumwa Courier Building]]

Paired with [[Kirksville, Missouri]], Ottumwa is a [[media market]] region, ranked #201 by [[Nielsen Company|Nielsen]]. Television stations include [[Fox Broadcasting Company|Fox]]/[[NBC]]/[[The CW Plus|The CW+]] affiliate [[KYOU-TV]] ([[Channel 15 digital TV stations in the United States|channel 15]]) and [[Iowa PBS|K18GU-D]] ([[Channel 12 low-power TV stations in the United States|channel 12]]; [[Broadcast relay station|translator]] of [[Iowa PBS|KIIN]] [[Channel 12 digital TV stations in the United States|channel 12]] in [[Iowa City, Iowa|Iowa City]]). Dual [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]]/[[CBS]] affiliate [[KTVO]] ([[Channel 3 digital TV stations in the United States|channel 3]]) is licensed to and has its main offices near Kirksville, but has a second studio and news bureau in Ottumwa.

The ''[[Ottumwa Courier]]'' is the primary daily newspaper.

"Ottumwa Radio" is the primary regional radio provider with multiple stations.

==Infrastructure==
[[Image:OttumwaStationLongView.jpg|thumb|right|[[Amtrak]] passenger rail station and platform]]
[[File:Jefferson Street Viaduct.jpg|thumb|Jefferson Street Viaduct]]

===Transportation===
[[Ottumwa Regional Airport]] is a general aviation airport owned by the City of Ottumwa and is operated by the Airport Advisory Board.

[[Amtrak]], the national passenger rail system, provides service to the [[Ottumwa Amtrak station]], operating its ''[[California Zephyr]]'' daily in both directions between [[Union Station (Chicago)|Chicago]], [[Illinois]], and [[Emeryville, California|Emeryville]], California, across the [[San Francisco Bay]] from San Francisco.

[[Ottumwa Transit Authority]] operates bus services throughout the Ottumwa area.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.iatransit.com/services/agency_profile.asp?intAgencyID=582 |title=Iowa Office of Public Transit |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040705025039/http://www.iatransit.com/services/agency_profile.asp?intAgencyID=582 |archive-date=July 5, 2004 |access-date=May 27, 2014}}</ref> The fixed-route system includes five routes and a shopping shuttle.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ottumwatransit.com/schedule.htm |title=SCHEDULES |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050505041810/http://www.ottumwatransit.com/schedule.htm |archive-date=May 5, 2005 |access-date=May 27, 2014}}</ref> It also operates a para-transit service known as Ottumwa Transit Authority Lift<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ottumwatransit.com/OTA%20Lift.htm |title=OTA LIFT |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050505040658/http://www.ottumwatransit.com/OTA%20Lift.htm |archive-date=May 5, 2005 |access-date=May 27, 2014}}</ref> and Job Access Reverse Commute (JARC), a dial-a-ride service geared towards employees.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ottumwatransit.com/JARC.htm |title=JARC |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050505040130/http://www.ottumwatransit.com/JARC.htm |archive-date=May 5, 2005 |access-date=May 27, 2014}}</ref>
The five routes that operate Monday through Friday are: #1 North, #2 East West, #3 South Residential, #4 South Commercial, and #7 Airport. There are also two routes that operate on Saturday only; no routes operate on Sunday.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cityofottumwa.org/files/files/OTA_Timetable_-_dec_2011_1.pdf |title=OTA Timetable – December 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121119180100/http://www.cityofottumwa.org/files/files/OTA_Timetable_-_dec_2011_1.pdf |archive-date=November 19, 2012 |access-date=May 27, 2014}}</ref>

10–15 Regional Transit Agency provides a regional dial-a-ride service throughout Appanoose, Davis, Jefferson, Keokuk, Lucas, Mahaska, Monroe, Van Buren, Wapello and Wayne counties.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.iatransit.com/services/agency_profile.asp?intAgencyID=150 |title=Iowa Office of Public Transit |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040914064640/http://www.iatransit.com/services/agency_profile.asp?intAgencyID=150 |archive-date=September 14, 2004 |access-date=May 27, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ottumwatransit.com/10-15.htm |title=10–15 Transit |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050218193515/http://www.ottumwatransit.com/10-15.htm |archive-date=February 18, 2005 |access-date=May 27, 2014}}</ref>

Currently, [[U.S. Route 34]] and [[Iowa Highway 149]] serve the town, replacing a former segment of [[US Route 63|U.S. Highway 63]]. Route 63 now bypasses the town as part of the [[Burlington, Iowa|Burlington]] to [[Des Moines]] expressway. The [[Jefferson Street Viaduct]] over the Des Moines River is listed on the [[National Register of Historic Places]].

===Railroads===
The [[BNSF Railway]] has tracks through Ottumwa. This is a major corridor in the Chicago-Omaha line that is double track, and western coal makes up a large percentage of the freight carried on this line. The BNSF tracks travel under U.S. Highway 34, pass through the business district, under the U.S. Highway 63 bridge, cross the [[Iowa, Chicago and Eastern Railroad]] tracks at grade, exit Ottumwa, and later cross over the [[Des Moines River]] on their way to [[Albia, Iowa]], and later [[Omaha, Nebraska]].

The [[Iowa, Chicago and Eastern Railroad]] was acquired by the Canadian Pacific in 2008. Ottumwa is located on the Davenport, Iowa, to Kansas City, Mo. line and is a crew change point.

The [[Norfolk Southern Railway]] has trackage rights over the BNSF through Ottumwa.

==Notable people==
<!--consensus reached to standardize this heading per WikiProject Cities/US Guideline-->
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* [[Tom Arnold (actor)|Tom Arnold]] – actor<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.filmreference.com/film/74/Tom-Arnold.html|title=Tom Arnold Biography (1959-)|website=Filmreference.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |author=Cristy |url=https://www.onlyinyourstate.com/iowa/roseanne-barr-abandoned-mansion-ia/ |archive-url=https://archive.today/20231004193057/https://www.onlyinyourstate.com/iowa/roseanne-barr-abandoned-mansion-ia/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=2023-10-04 |title=A Famous Mansion Was Built And Left To Decay In The Middle Of An Iowa Cornfield |date=25 January 2022 |access-date=4 October 2023}}</ref>
* [[Chris Ash]] - head football coach, [[Rutgers University]]
* [[Steve Bales]] – [[Apollo 11]] flight controller<ref>{{cite news|title=Gemini 10 News Release No. 3|url=http://www.hq.nasa.gov/office/pao/History/alsj/flight_controller_assigns.pdf|access-date=February 1, 2016|agency=NASA|date=July 13, 1966|archive-date=January 28, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170128053932/http://www.hq.nasa.gov/office/pao/History/alsj/flight_controller_assigns.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref>
* [[Jason Black]], former professional mixed martial artist
* [[Stephen Blumberg]] – notorious rare book thief {{citation needed|date=May 2013}}
* [[Bud Clancy]] – major league baseball player
* [[Walter Day]] – video game statistician{{citation needed|date=May 2013}}
* [[Edna Ferber]] – novelist who lived in Ottumwa as a child<ref>{{cite book|url= https://books.google.com/books?id=YBIvc_e_YwwC&q=ottumwa&pg=PA503|last=Shuman|first=Baird|title=Great American Writers: Twentieth Century|publisher= Marshall Cavendish|year=2002|isbn=9780761472407 |access-date=May 27, 2014}}</ref>
* [[Elnora M. Gilfoyle]] – occupational therapist and educator.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://legacies.chhs.colostate.edu/files/EllieGilfoyle.pdf|title=Elnora 'Ellie' M. Gilfoyle|publisher=[[Colorado State University]]|access-date=September 11, 2018}}</ref>
* [[Donald Keyhoe]] – [[United States Marine Corps|Marine Corps]] major and aviator, [[UFO]] researcher and author<ref>{{Cite web |title=Keyhoe, Donald Edwards (1897-1988) |url=https://www.encyclopedia.com/science/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/keyhoe-donald-edwards-1897-1988 |access-date=1 September 2024 |website=encyclopedia.com}}</ref>
* [[Dan Knight]] – jazz pianist, [[Steinway & Sons|Steinway]] artist, composer, [[Pulitzer Prize]] nominee<ref>{{Cite web |date=2021 |title=About |url=http://www.danknight.com/about.html |access-date=1 September 2024 |website=Dan Knight}}</ref>
* [[Bob Lee (baseball)]] – major league baseball pitcher
* [[Herschel C. Loveless|Herschel Loveless]] (1911–1989) – 34th Governor of Iowa 1957–61, Mayor of Ottumwa 1949–53<ref>{{cite web|url=http://politicalgraveyard.com/bio/lovejoy-lowdermilk.html#LOVELESS|title=Political Graveyard|publisher=LOVELESS |access-date=December 19, 2010}}</ref>
* [[Emma Louise Lowe]] – musician, educator, former First Lady of American Samoa and former First Lady of Guam. Born in Ottumwa.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/local/1995/12/30/obituaries/ab35a258-a4be-4dca-bbf1-47ddbd27e283/ |title=Obituaries – Emma Louise Lowe, Home Restorer |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |date=December 30, 1995 |accessdate=October 26, 2021 |archive-date=October 24, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211024092707/https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/local/1995/12/30/obituaries/ab35a258-a4be-4dca-bbf1-47ddbd27e283/ |url-status=dead}}</ref>
* [[E. J. Mather]] – college football and basketball player and coach. Born in Ottumwa.
* [[Mariannette Miller-Meeks]] – Iowa Congresswoman, U.S. House of Representatives. Long-time Ottumwa resident.
* [[Jack E. McCoy]] – Iowa state legislator <ref>{{Cite web |date=31 December 2014 |title=Ottumwa Courier - Obituaries |url=https://obituaries.ottumwacourier.com/obituary/jack-mccoy-770519671 |access-date=1 September 2024 |website=Ottumwa Courier}}</ref>
* [[Arthur A. McGiverin]] – The longest-serving Chief Justice of the Iowa Supreme Court. Lived in Ottumwa for many years. Died in 2019 at the age of 90.
* [[R. W. Scott McLeod]] – U.S. Department of State official and Ambassador to Ireland; grew up in Ottumwa
* [[Karen Morley]] – actress and political activist; born as Mildred Linton, she was adopted and left Iowa for California with her family at age 13<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2003-apr-23-me-morley23-story.html|title=Karen Morley, 93; Star of 1930s Films Was Blacklisted in '50s|date=April 23, 2003|website=[[Los Angeles Times]]|access-date=April 21, 2019}}</ref> 
* [[Carol Morris]] – [[Miss Iowa USA]] 1956, [[Miss USA 1956]], [[Miss Universe 1956]], actress<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.desmoinesregister.com/article/99999999/FAMOUSIOWANS/399990424/Morris-Carol|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130102105342/http://www.desmoinesregister.com/article/99999999/FAMOUSIOWANS/399990424/Morris-Carol|url-status=dead|archive-date=January 2, 2013|title=Famous Iowans – Morris, Carol|newspaper=The Des Moines Register|access-date=December 23, 2010}}</ref>
* [[Honoré Willsie Morrow]] – author, editor
* [[Harry Ostdiek]] – [[Major League Baseball]] player <ref>{{Cite web |last=Nowlin |first=Bill |title=Harry Ostdiek |url=https://sabr.org/bioproj/person/harry-ostdiek/ |access-date=1 September 2024 |website=Society for American Baseball Research}}</ref>
* [[Beverley Owen]] – actress 
* [[Overton Phillips]] – racing driver 
* [[Mary Florence Potts]] – iron inventor<ref name=PottPatents>{{cite web|url=http://www.encyclopedia.com/women/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/inventors|title=Inventors|date=2002|website=Women in World History|publisher=Gale Research Inc.|access-date=May 12, 2017|quote=Potts, Mary Florence (c. 1853–?). American inventor of the most popular irons ever used.}}</ref> 
* [[Daniel F. Steck]] - U.S. Senator (1926–1931)
* [[Hal Walker]] (1896–1972) – film director
* [[Jake Weimer]] (1873–1928) – [[Major League Baseball]] player 1903–05<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/w/weimeja01.shtml|title=BASEBALL-Reference|publisher=Jake Weimer|access-date=December 19, 2010}}</ref>
* [[Adam Young (American musician)|Adam Young]] – musician

==In popular culture==
[[Image:OttumwaCanteenLunchintheAlley.jpg|thumb|right|Canteen Lunch in the Alley]]

* [[List of M*A*S*H characters#Radar O'Reilly|Cpl. "Radar" O'Reilly]] – Company clerk from ''[[M*A*S*H]]'' television series and books was from Ottumwa, Iowa. 
* The television movie ''[[The Woman Who Loved Elvis]]'' starring [[Roseanne Barr]] (then the wife of Ottumwa native [[Tom Arnold (actor)|Tom Arnold]]) was partially filmed in Ottumwa.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://articles.philly.com/1993-04-18/entertainment/25979348_1_roseanne-arnold-tom-arnold-jackie-thomas-show|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150919100542/http://articles.philly.com/1993-04-18/entertainment/25979348_1_roseanne-arnold-tom-arnold-jackie-thomas-show|url-status=dead|archive-date=September 19, 2015|title=Archives - Philly.com|website=[[The Philadelphia Inquirer]]}}</ref>
* In the sitcom ''[[Roseanne (TV series)|Roseanne]]'', Roseanne Conner's restaurant, the Lanford Lunch Box, was based on the [[Canteen Lunch in the Alley]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tvacres.com/restaurants_lanford.htm|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120918125810/http://www.tvacres.com/restaurants_lanford.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=September 18, 2012|title=TV Acres|publisher=Restaurants, Bars & Nightclubs|access-date=December 23, 2010}}</ref> in central downtown Ottumwa, which has been a stopping point for Ottumwans since the 1920s. Many famous patrons have been seen eating a "Canteen", a [[loose meat]] sandwich similar to a [[Maid-Rite]].
* The U.S. Navy harbor tug [[USS Ottumwa (YTB-761)]] was named for the city.
{{clear}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{commons category|Ottumwa, Iowa}}
{{wikivoyage|Ottumwa}}
{{Portal|Iowa}}
* [http://ci.ottumwa.ia.us Ottumwa portal style website] City government, Health, Transit, Airport and more
* {{Cite EB1911|wstitle=Ottumwa|short=x}}
* {{Cite EB9|wstitle=Ottumwa|volume=18 |short=x}}
* {{Internet Archive short film|id=gov.archives.arc.2569655|name=Big Picture: Ottumwa, U.S.A.}}

{{Wapello County, Iowa}}
{{Iowa county seats}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Ottumwa, Iowa| ]]
[[Category:Cities in Iowa]]
[[Category:County seats in Iowa]]
[[Category:Micropolitan areas of Iowa]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1843]]
[[Category:Cities in Wapello County, Iowa]]
[[Category:1843 establishments in Iowa Territory]]