Ottumwa, Iowa

Ottumwa, Iowa
Nicknames: 
City of Bridges
Video Game Capital of the World
Location of Ottumwa in the State of Iowa
Coordinates: 41°01′10″N 92°25′07″W / 41.01944°N 92.41861°W / 41.01944; -92.41861
CountryUnited States
StateIowa
CountyWapello
Established1843
Government
 • TypeMayor/Council
 • MayorRick Johnson
Area
 • Total
16.73 sq mi (43.32 km2)
 • Land16.06 sq mi (41.60 km2)
 • Water0.67 sq mi (1.73 km2)
Elevation
650 ft (200 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total
25,529
 • Rank18th in Iowa
 • Density1,589.5/sq mi (613.71/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
ZIP Code
52501
Area code641
FIPS code19-60465
GNIS feature ID2396110
Websiteottumwa.us

Ottumwa (/əˈtʌmwə/ ə-TUM-wə) 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 original town was founded on the former camps of Meskwaki Chiefs Wapello and Appanoose. Ottumwa first developed as an industrious city economically based in farm-equipment manufacturing and meatpacking, those being John Deere and John Morrell & Co. (now JBS) respectively. The city is also home to Indian Hills Community College to provide for higher education. Ottumwa is the center of the Ottumwa Micropolitan Area which includes all of Wapello and Davis counties.