Ottumwa's name — meaning "tumbling water" — is a tribute to its location along the Des Moines River and the city's rich Native history. The Mesquaki and Sac occupied the city before it became Wapello's county seat and longtime manufacturing hub. During the 1960s, the closure of several industries led to a decline in population, but the city persisted. Partnerships between local government and private businesses slowly restored the economy. JBS, John Deere and national retailers are the city's largest employers. "We're known as a blue-collar town, and we have a hardworking history," says Sonja Ferrell, director at the Ottumwa Public Library. "We like to share that history with newcomers so that we all can learn from both our evolving culture and the culture that we came from." Today, Ottumwa is lovingly nicknamed "Where Iowa Meets the World," as its population of over 25,000 represents over 40 nationalities.
The Des Moines River is Ottumwa's defining feature.
Ottumwa features an array of industry, including JBS.
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Preserved historic districts and churches
Founded in 1843, Ottumwa has over 24 buildings and seven historic districts on the National Registrar of Historic Places. Some districts still have original red brick roads, and homes typically come in Craftsman, American Foursquare, Colonial Revival and Tudor Revival styles. Outside downtown and the historic districts are bungalows, Cape Cods and ranch-style homes. Median home prices hover around $135,000, substantially lower than the national median of $406,000.
Ottumwa's community has had a faith-based focus since its founding. The city has over 60 churches, a few of which are part of a historic walking tour. These exemplify the Gothic-Revival style, with pointed arches, decorative spires and limestone exteriors.
Ottumwa features a variety of residential architecture, including historic bungalows.
Ottumwa boasts dozens of historic churches.
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Native gathering places and new attractions
Greater Ottumwa Park is one of the city's most popular greenspaces. The park is almost an island, with the Des Moines River encircling most of it. People come to fish, camp and visit Beach Ottumwa, the city's premier waterpark. The outdoor waterslides are only open during summer, but indoor swimming is available year-round. Gray Eagle Wildlife Preserve offers seasonal bird watching, and Garrison Rock has several hiking trails where wild deer and turkeys roam the hickory forest. The area is historically significant, as it was an early Native American gathering site.
With sweeping river views, Bridge View Center offers an intimate concert theater and a 30,000-square-foot expo center. When it opens, a new $12 million sportsplex will become the city's hub for sporting events.
Greater Ottumwa Park gives residents a place to enjoy the outdoors.
Bridge View Center brings big name stage entertainment to Ottumwa.
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Bringing business back to downtown
The city is almost 100 miles from larger cities and shopping hubs, so Ottumwa has shifted its focus toward revitalizing the downtown area. The commercial district now has about 135 businesses thanks to several entrepreneurial incentives and grants. Locally owned restaurants sit next to specialty shops and offices where over 1,000 residents work.
Ottumwa takes pride in its downtown district, which is has been actively revitalizing.
Ottumwa boasts several small boutique shopping options on its downtown main street.
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Annual hot air balloon races
Central Park hosts several of the city's events. Its amphitheater holds summertime concerts and drag shows during The Ottumwa Pride Block Party. Every Friday night in July, Live After Five brims with live music. The winter holidays kick off with a festive Lights of Love tree display.
The city celebrates diversity through the VIVA Ottumwa International Festival, where the community can share traditional dishes, dances and activities. The Ottumwa Pro Balloon Races have been an annual tradition since 1977. Hundreds of multi-colored hot air balloons fill the sky, and pilots compete to win Best Balloon while attendees enjoy a carnival below.
In the summer, hot air balloon races launch from Greater Ottumwa Park.
Ottumwa's Central Park amphitheater hosts several festivals and events throughout the year.
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School district shows off community's diversity
The Ottumwa Community School District serves over 5,000 students. It has a C rating on Niche, but it ranks in the top 10 most diverse districts out of 304 in the state. It's also among the state's fastest-growing districts. For higher education, the city offers Indian Hills Community College.
Ottumwa High School serves the city's older students.
Ottumwa is home to Indian Hills Community College.
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Long distance travel by car or train
While people mainly travel by car, bus stops are throughout the city, and parts of downtown are walkable. Several large roads and pedestrian bridges offer passage across the river. Highways 34 and 63 are the city's primary long-distance thoroughfares, but residents can also take the Amtrak train. Ottumwa has a regional airport, but commercial flights go through Des Moines International Airport, 84 miles away.
Crime statistics and siren systems
According to the Ottumwa Police Department, violent crime rates decreased between 2022 and 2023, but property crime rates increased.
The city experiences moderate weather year-round, but cold winters do bring snow. "We're similar to Chicago. We get snowfall, but we're not like Canada-cold," says Derek Graves, longtime local and Realtor at Ottumwa Realty. The city's rainy season can cause flooding along Bear and Kettle creeks, but flood walls prevent major river flooding. Ottumwa has an outdoor siren system for extreme weather events, which is tested at noon on the first Monday of each month.
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Disclaimer: Certain information contained herein is derived from information provided by parties other than Homes.com. Our sources include: Accuweather, Public Records and Neustar. All information provided is deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed to be accurate and should be independently verified.
