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Ottumwa, IA

Frequently asked questions

Ottumwa, IA 

Ottumwa is a city in and the county seat of Wapello County, Iowa, United States. The population was 25,529 at the time of the 2020 U.S. Census. Located in the state's southeastern section, the city is split into northern and southern halves by the Des Moines River.

The city's name derives from the Native American Sac and Fox, alternatively Meskwaki, language. The English language translation is generally presumed to refer to the Appanoose Rapids of the Des Moines River, as "tumbling waters" or similar. Earlier versions of the name were suffixed by the Sac word for place, noc.

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 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 plan was titled Louis Ville. In 1844 the city was named as the county seat. The town was severely damaged during the flood of 1851.

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 mine four miles northwest of town. By 1872, Brown and Godfrey employed 300 men and had an annual production of 77,000 tons. In 1880, the Phillips Coal and Mining Company opened a mine two miles northwest of town. In subsequent years, they opened 5 more shafts in the Phillips and Rutledge neighborhoods, just north of Ottumwa. The Phillips number 5 shaft was 140 feet (43 meters) deep, with a 375-HP steam hoist. By 1889, the state mine inspector's report listed 15 mine shafts in Ottumwa. In 1914, the Phillips Fuel Company produced over 100,000 tons of coal, ranking among the top 24 coal producers in the state. 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.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 16.53 square miles (42.81 km²), of which 15.86 square miles (41.08 km²) is land and 0.67 square miles (1.74 km²) is water. 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. Ottumwa is the center of the Ottumwa Micropolitan Statistical Area which includes all of Wapello County. 

Ottumwa places a strong emphasis on health and wellness to its residents. The Beach Ottumwa is a premier aquatic center offering swimming lessons, water aerobics, and a lazy river for relaxation. Ottumwa Family YMCA provides a range of fitness classes, personal training, and wellness programs for all ages. The Pinnacle Club offers a luxurious setting for fitness and relaxation, including a state-of-the-art gym and spa services. Radiant Wellness Massage specializes in therapeutic massage treatments designed to alleviate stress and promote healing. Anytime Fitness in Ottumwa gives 24/7 access to a well-equipped gym and personalized training plans. Studio K Dance and Fitness offers a variety of dance and fitness classes, including Zumba and Pilates. Serendipity Salon & Day Spa provides an array of beauty and wellness treatments, from facials to massages. 23:20 Fitness offers comprehensive fitness programs including cardio, strength training, and group exercise classes.

Top sites in Ottumwa, IA are Beach Ottumwa, Bridge View Center, Cedar Creek Golf Course, and Iowa Heartland History Connection.

Population: 25,252 (2023). ZIP code: 52501. Area code: 641. Elevation: 650 ft (200 m). Area: 16.73 sq mi (43.32 km²).

FAQs

What is Ottumwa, IA famous for?

Meatpacking and the manufacture of farm equipment are the chief industries in this city. Ottumwa has a campus of Indian Hills Community College (1966). The city’s former airport is the site of the Airpower Museum, which displays a large collection of antique airplanes and artifacts from early aviation. Lake Wapello State Park is to the southwest near Drakesville, and the house that was used for Grant Wood’s painting American Gothic (1930) is in Eldon to the southeast. Inc.

What is the ethnicity of Ottumwa, IA?

In 2022, there were 9.36 times more White (Non-Hispanic) residents (18.7k people) in Ottumwa, IA than any other race or ethnicity. There were 2k White (Hispanic) and 1.03k Black or African American (Non-Hispanic) residents, the second and third most common ethnic groups. 14.9% of the people in Ottumwa, IA are hispanic (3.78k people). The 5 largest ethnic groups in Ottumwa, IA are White (Non-Hispanic) (73.7%), White (Hispanic) (7.87%), Black or African American (Non-Hispanic) (4.08%), Other (Hispanic) (3.75%), and Two+ (Non-Hispanic) (3.33%).

What is the crime rate in Ottumwa, IA?

With a crime rate of 45 per one thousand residents, Ottumwa has one of the highest crime rates in America compared to all communities of all sizes - from the smallest towns to the very largest cities. One's chance of becoming a victim of either violent or property crime here is one in 22. Within Iowa, more than 99% of the communities have a lower crime rate than Ottumwa.

Sources

Wikipedia

City Of Ottumwa

Britannica

Data USA

Neighborhood Scout

Beach Ottumwa

Cedar Creek Golf Course

Bridge View Center

Iowa Heartland History Connection

Ottumwa Family YMCA

The Pinnacle Club 

Radiant Wellness Massage 

Anytime Fitness

Studio K Dance and Fitness

Serendipity Salon & Day Spa

23:20 Fitness
 

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