Ottumwa was established as the seat of Wapello County in 1844. From the days of riverboats and steam railroads into the 21st century, Ottumwa is the hub of Southeast Iowa.

Ottumwa is nestled in the gently rolling countryside of southeast Iowa, Ottumwa provides freedom from big city hassles and surrounds residents with a leisurely pace of life. Even more importantly, Ottumwa offers all the amenities of a much larger city. You can enjoy a rich mix of cultural and recreational activities. Ottumwa is a city surrounded by the natural beauty of the Des Moines River and is vibrant, prosperous, and growing. Ottumwa is a hub for Shopping, Health Care, Education and Cultural Activities.

Ottumwa is growing. A number of sizable developments have spurred a great deal of additional commercial interest in Ottumwa. Locally owned businesses, as well as national corporations continue investing in our community through expansion and/or opening new facilities in Ottumwa. From 1998 through January 2003, our citizens have invested approximately $61,150,000 in commercial, retail, and industrial development.

The City Council's commitment to the construction of an events center has drawn support from the state, county, private organizations and support pledges of $4 million from individual citizens. There has been a renewed interest in Ottumwa's downtown, with several new private businesses constructed in the area.

The expanding commercial districts and industrial base make Ottumwa a strong, viable and expanding community. Through progressive partnerships between City government and private business and industry, we are looking forward to an era of growth.

Housing Cost

Estimated median house or condo value in 2007: $66,444

Mean prices in 2007: All housing units: $84,461; Detached houses: $86,362; Townhouses or other attached units: $87,168; In 2-unit structures: $75,532; In 3-to-4-unit structures: $56,887; In 5-or-more-unit structures: $76,916; Mobile homes: $23,346

Demographics

Population in July 2007: 24,531. Ottumwa covers 15.8 square miles. It sits at an elevation of 700 feet above sea level.

Zip codes: 52501 - Area code: 641

Weather

Ottumwa, IA climate is warm during summer when temperatures tend to be in the 70's and very cold during winter when temperatures tend to be in the 20's.

The warmest month of the year is July with an average maximum temperature of 86.20 degrees Fahrenheit, while the coldest month of the year is January with an average minimum temperature of 13.80 degrees Fahrenheit.

Temperature variations between night and day tend to be fairly limited during summer with a difference that can reach 19 degrees Fahrenheit, and fairly limited during winter with an average difference of 16 degrees Fahrenheit.

The annual average precipitation at Ottumwa is 35.90 Inches. Rainfall in is fairly evenly distributed throughout the year. The wettest month of the year is May with an average rainfall of 4.56 Inches.

Information provided by idcide.com and city data.com