Editing Ottumwa, Iowa

{{Redirect|Ottumwa|the place in Kansas|Ottumwa, Kansas|the community in South Dakota|Ottumwa, South Dakota}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2015}}
{{Infobox settlement
|official_name            = Ottumwa, Iowa
|settlement_type          = City
|nickname                 = 
|image_skyline            = 
|imagesize                = 
|image_caption            = 
|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         = {{USA}}
|subdivision_type1        = [[Political divisions of the United States|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              = Tom Lazio<ref>{{cite web|last=Allt|first=Kate|title=Tom Lazio takes office as Mayor of Ottumwa|url=http://www.heartlandconnection.com/news/story.aspx?id=989631#.UwoNvfldV8F|accessdate=February 23, 2014}}</ref> 
|established_date         = 1844

<!-- Population -->
|population_as_of         = [[2010 United States Census|2010]]
|population_est           = 24840
|pop_est_as_of            = 2013
|pop_est_footnotes        = <ref name="2013 Pop Estimate">{{cite web|title=Population Estimates|url=http://www.census.gov/popest/data/cities/totals/2013/SUB-EST2013-3.html|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|accessdate=July 20, 2014}}</ref>
|population_footnotes     = <ref name="FactFinder"/>
|population_total         = 25023
|population_density_km2   = 609.2
|population_density_sq_mi = 1577.7
|population_rank          = [[List of largest Iowa cities by population|20th]] in Iowa

|timezone                 = [[North American Central Time Zone|CST]]
|utc_offset               = -6
|timezone_DST             = [[Central Standard Time Zone|CDT]]
|utc_offset_DST           = -5

<!-- Area -->
|unit_pref                = Imperial
|area_footnotes           = <ref name="Gazetteer files"/>
|area_magnitude           = 
|area_total_km2           = 42.81
|area_land_km2            = 41.08
|area_water_km2           = 1.74
|area_total_sq_mi         = 16.53
|area_land_sq_mi          = 15.86
|area_water_sq_mi         = 0.67

|elevation_m              = 205
|elevation_ft             = 673
|coordinates              = {{coord|41|0|47|N|92|24|53|W|region:US_type:city|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              = 0459952
|website                  = http://www.cityofottumwa.org/
|footnotes                = 
}}

'''Ottumwa''' ({{IPAc-en|ə|ˈ|t|ʌ|m|w|ə}} {{respell|ə|TUM|wə}}) is a city in and the [[county seat]] of [[Wapello County, Iowa|Wapello County]], Iowa, United States.<ref name="GR6">{{cite web|url=http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx|accessdate=June 7, 2011|title=Find a County|publisher=National Association of Counties}}</ref> The population was 25,023 at the [[2010 United States Census|2010 census]]. Located in southeastern Iowa, the city is split into northern and southern halves by the [[Des Moines River]].

==History==
[[Image:OttumwaMines.png|thumb|300px|right|Map of Ottumwa from 1908, showing the railroads and coal mines (shown in red) of the region.]]
The young 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, Iowa | page = 541 | url = https://books.google.com/books?id=1BUMAAAAYAAJ}}</ref> The Phillips number 5 shaft was 140&nbsp;feet deep, with a 375 horse power 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, Iowa | page = 298 | url = https://books.google.com/books?id=1BUMAAAAYAAJ | doi =}}</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, Iowa | 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 played a significant role in the development of the City 
of Ottumwa from 1877 to 1973. The complex typified meat packing as it 
developed in the midwest during the last quarter of the nineteenth century and the 
first half of the twentieth century.<ref>{{cite web|title=John Morrell & Company Meat Packing Plant, 316 South Iowa Street, Ottumwa, Wapello County, IA|url=http://www.loc.gov/pictures/item/ia0206/}}</ref>

===Presidential visits===
Because of the [[Iowa caucuses]], Ottumwa is no stranger to visits by presidential hopefuls. On five occasions a sitting U.S. President has visited the Bridge City:<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|accessdate=December 19, 2010}}</ref>
* [[Benjamin Harrison]] was the first, in 1890, touring the Coal Palace and then speaking to a crowd of over 40,000 people.<ref name="fsphvo"/>
* In 1903 President [[Theodore Roosevelt]] made a brief stop while on a train trip around America.<ref name="fsphvo"/>
* President [[Harry Truman]] spent part of his 66th birthday, May 8, 1950, in Ottumwa while on a 16-state train trip in support of his [[Fair Deal]] program.<ref name="fsphvo"/>
* In July 1971, President [[Richard Nixon]] arrived in [[Air Force One]] at the Ottumwa Industrial Airport on his way 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 |accessdate=December 18, 2010}}</ref> It was a homecoming for Nixon of sorts, as he 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|accessdate=December 19, 2010}}</ref>
* On April 27, 2010 President [[Barack Obama]] spoke to a large crowd at the Hellyer Student Center on the campus of [[Indian Hills Community College]]. After the speech the president held a question and answer session.<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|accessdate=December 19, 2010}}</ref>
* In September 2012 Vice President [[Joe Biden]] made a campaign stop in Ottumwa, where he spoke at the Bridgeview Center.<ref>{{cite web |last=Deffenbaugh |first=Greg |url=http://www.heartlandconnection.com/news/story.aspx?id=802448 |title=Vice President Biden campaigns in southeast Iowa |publisher=KTVO-TV via website|date=September 18, 2012|accessdate=October 8, 2012}}</ref>

==Geography==
Ottumwa's longitude and latitude coordinates in decimal form are 41.012917, −92.414817.<ref name="GR1">{{cite web|url=http://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/gazette.html|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|accessdate=April 23, 2011|date=February 12, 2011|title=US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990}}</ref>

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 name="Gazetteer files">{{cite web|title=US Gazetteer files 2010|url=http://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/files/Gaz_places_national.txt|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|accessdate=May 11, 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>[http://www.cityofottumwa.org/economic_development/planning/historic/wapello_co_history A Brief History of Wapello County, Iowa] by Tom Quinn, n.d.</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
|estyear=2015
|estimate=24624
|estref=<ref name="USCensusEst2015">{{cite web|url=http://www.census.gov/popest/data/cities/totals/2015/SUB-EST2015.html|title=Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Incorporated Places: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2015|accessdate=July 2, 2016}}</ref>
|footnote=<center>U.S. Decennial Census<ref name="DecennialCensus">{{cite web|url=http://www.census.gov/prod/www/decennial.html|title=Census of Population and Housing|publisher=Census.gov|accessdate=June 4, 2015}}</ref></center>
}}
[[Image:Wapello County, Iowa Courthouse.jpg|thumb|left|250px|[[Wapello County Courthouse]]]]

===2010 census===
As of the census<ref name="FactFinder">{{cite web|title=American FactFinder|url=http://factfinder2.census.gov/faces/nav/jsf/pages/index.xhtml|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|accessdate=May 11, 2012}}</ref> of 2010, there were 25,023 people, 10,251 households, and 6,208 families residing 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]], 11.3% [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]], 1.9% [[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 census of 2000, there were 24,998 people, 10,383 households, and 6,530 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,582.2 people per square mile (610.9/km²). There were 11,038 housing units at an average density of 698.6 per square mile (269.7/km²). 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.

==Arts and culture==

==="Video Game Capital of the World"===
As the home of [[Twin Galaxies]], Ottumwa was proclaimed the "Video Game Capital of the World" by a mayoral decree issued on November 30, 1982, by Ottumwa Mayor Jerry Parker.<ref>{{cite web |last = Kalning | first= Kristin|url=http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/30588831/ |title=Ottumwa, video game capital of the world? - On the Level- msnbc.com |publisher=www.msnbc.msn.com |accessdate=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 |accessdate=June 14, 2010}}</ref> In connection with this proclamation, the city hosted the first North American Video Olympics in the fall of 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 |accessdate=June 14, 2010 }}</ref> In 2009, the city council and chamber of commerce authorized a steering committee to plan out the [[International Video Game Hall of Fame]] museum, which, while not yet built, has inducted several video game industry professionals, developers and designers, and high-scoring players into the Hall of Fame.

===In popular culture===
* [[Radar O'Reilly|Cpl. "Radar" O'Reilly]] – Company clerk from ''[[M*A*S*H (TV series)|M*A*S*H]]'' television series and books was from Ottumwa, Iowa. The town is mentioned as Radar's hometown in the novel and regularly on the show.  The character was based on Don Shaffer, a veteran who is from Ottumwa. 
* The movie ''[[The Tuskegee Airmen]]'' featured the character Hannibal "Iowa" Lee Jr. (played by [[Laurence Fishburne]]), who claimed Ottumwa as his hometown.
* The television movie ''[[The Woman Who Loved Elvis]]'' starring [[Rosanne Barr]] (then the wife of Ottumwa native [[Tom Arnold (actor)|Tom Arnold]]) was partially filmed in Ottumwa.<ref>http://articles.philly.com/1993-04-18/entertainment/25979348_1_roseanne-arnold-tom-arnold-jackie-thomas-show</ref>
[[Image:OttumwaCanteenLunchintheAlley.jpg|thumb|right|<center>View of Canteen Lunch in the Alley</center>]]
* In the sitcom ''[[Roseanne (TV series)|Roseanne]]'', Roseanne Connor’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|title=TV Acres|publisher= Restaurants, Bars & Nightclubs|accessdate=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]].
* [[Madame Zorka|Pansy Bump]] – a character in the [[Nero Wolfe]] novel ''Over My Dead Body'' by [[Rex Stout]] was from Ottumwa

==Education==
[[Ottumwa High School]] is part of the Ottumwa public school system.
;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.

==Economy==

===Top employers===
According to Ottumwa's 2011 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report,<ref>[https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&pid=explorer&chrome=true&srcid=0B-GBNhPR9l3eOGE4NDg4OWQtYzg2OC00ZGQyLTgxZjEtNjJlNmI3NTc5ZGFm&hl=en_US City of Ottumwa CAFR]</ref> the top employers in the city were:

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! #
! Employer
! # of Employees
|-
| 1
| [[JBS Swift & Co.]]
|2,400
|-
|2
| [[John Deere]] Ottumwa Works
|940
|-
|3
| Ottumwa Regional Health Center
|750
|-
|4
| [[Ottumwa Community School District]]
|616
|-
|5
| [[Hy-Vee]]
|426
|-
|6
| [[Walmart]]
|364
|-
|7
| [[Indian Hills Community College]]
|322
|-
|8
| City of Ottumwa
|263
|-
|9
| Winger Contracting Company
|242
|-
|10
| [[Dr Pepper Snapple Group]]
|199
|}

==Media==
Paired with [[Kirksville, Missouri]], Ottumwa is a [[media market]] region, ranked #199 by [[Nielsen Company|Nielsen]].

===Radio===
{| cellspacing="0" cellpadding="4" border="1"
|+ align=bottom |
!style="background:#ffdecc;"| '''Frequency'''
!style="background:#ffdecc;"| '''Power in watts'''
!style="background:#ffdecc;"| '''[[Call sign]]'''
!style="background:#ffdecc;"| '''Nickname'''
!style="background:#ffdecc;"| '''Format'''
!style="background:#ffdecc;"| '''Owner'''
!style="background:#ffdecc;"| '''Web site'''
!style="background:#ffdecc;"| '''Notes'''
|-
|1240&nbsp;AM||1000||[[KBIZ]]||Your news and information leader||News/Talk||O-Town Communications||[http://www.OttumwaRadio.com]||
|-
|102.7 FM
|
|[[KBIZ]]
|Your News and Information Leader
|News/Talk
|O-Town Communications
|[http://www.OttumwaRadio.com]
|Simulcast of AM signal. 
|-
|740&nbsp;AM||229 day, 10 night||[[KMZN]]||Hot Country 740||[[Country music]] <sup>*simulcast with KBOE FM</sup>||Jomast Corporation||[http://www.kboeradio.com]||
|-
|1480&nbsp;AM||250 day, 17 night||[[KLEE]]||Good time oldies||[[Oldies]]||O-Town Communications||[http://kleeamottumwa.webs.com/]||Klee was sold by FMC Broadcasting to O-town Communications on December 24, 2013
|-
|107.7 FM
|
|KLEE
|Good Time Oldies
|Oldies
|O-Town Communications
|[http://kleeamottumwa.webs.com/]
|Simulcast of AM signal. 
|-
|104.9 FM||50,000||[[KBOE-FM|KBOE]]||Hot Country 104.9||Country music||Jomast Corporation||[http://www.kboeradio.com]||
|-
|105.3 FM||34,000||[[KEDB]]||Iowa's true oldies channel||Oldies||Honey Creek Broadcasting|| ||
|-
|96.7 FM||10,000 ||[[KIIC]]||Thunder Country||[[Classic country]]||Waveguide Communications, Inc.||[http://www.kiicradio.com/]||
|-
|101.5 FM||49,000||[[KKSI]]||101.5 Kiss FM||[[Classic rock]]||O-Town Communications||[http://www.kissclassicrock.com/]||
|-
|98.7 FM||100,000||[[KMGO]]||Iowa's Country. 98.7 KMGO||Country music||KMGO Inc.||[http://www.kmgo.com]||
|-
|97.7 FM||19,000||[[KOTM-FM|KOTM]]||97.7 Tom FM||[[Contemporary hit radio|Top 40 (CHR)]]||O-Town Communications||[http://www.kotm.com]||Kotm was sold by FMC Broadcasting to O-town Communications on December 24, 2013
|-
|104.3 FM||23,500||[[KRKN]]||New Country 104.3||Country music||O-Town Communications||[http://www.krknnewcountry.com]||
|-
|92.7 FM||50,000||[[KTWA]]||Today's hits & yesterdays favorites||[[Adult contemporary]]||O-Town Communications||[http://www.ktwafm.com]||
|-
|91.1 FM||1,450||[[KICW]]|| ||Classical music / [[Iowa Public Radio]]||[[University of Northern Iowa]]|| ||
|}<small>'''*Some radio stations licensed to other nearby cities.'''</small>

===Television stations===
* [[KTVO]] 3.1 Local [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]] affiliate
* [[KYOU-TV]] 15 Local [[Fox Network|FOX]] affiliate (also on translator channel 25, K25DE)
* [[KTVO-DT2]] 3.2 Local [[CBS]] affiliate
* K18GU-D 18 Translator of [[KIIN]] Iowa City, a [[Public Broadcasting Service|PBS]] and [[Iowa Public Television|IPTV]] affiliate

===Print===
The ''[[Ottumwa Courier]]'' is the primary daily newspaper,

===Online===
The Ottumwa Post http://www.ottumwapost.com

==Infrastructure==

===Transportation===
[[Image:OttumwaStationLongView.jpg|thumb|right|View of [[Amtrak]] passenger rail station and platform.]]
[[Image:Ottumwa Station.jpg|thumb|right|Detail view of [[Amtrak]] passenger rail station.]]
[[Amtrak]], the national passenger rail system, provides service to the [[Ottumwa (Amtrak station)|Ottumwa Amtrak station]], operating its ''[[California Zephyr]]'' daily in both directions between [[Union Station (Chicago)|Chicago]], [[Illinois]], and [[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 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20040705025039/http://www.iatransit.com/services/agency_profile.asp?intAgencyID=582 |archivedate=July 5, 2004 |accessdate=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 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20050505041810/http://www.ottumwatransit.com/schedule.htm |archivedate=May 5, 2005 |accessdate=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 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20050505040658/http://www.ottumwatransit.com/OTA%20Lift.htm |archivedate=May 5, 2005 |accessdate=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 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20050505040130/http://www.ottumwatransit.com/JARC.htm |archivedate=May 5, 2005 |accessdate=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 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20121119180100/http://www.cityofottumwa.org/files/files/OTA_Timetable_-_dec_2011_1.pdf |archivedate=November 19, 2012 |accessdate=May 27, 2014}}</ref>

10–15 Regional Transit Agency provides a regional dial-a-ride service throughout Appanoose, Davis, Jefferson, Keokuk, Lee, 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 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20040914064640/http://www.iatransit.com/services/agency_profile.asp?intAgencyID=150 |archivedate=September 14, 2004 |accessdate=May 27, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ottumwatransit.com/10-15.htm |title=10–15 Transit |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20050218193515/http://www.ottumwatransit.com/10-15.htm |archivedate=February 18, 2005 |accessdate=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 & Eastern Railway 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.

==Historic preservation==
Ottumwa has many historic structures as well as several historic districts that are listed on the National Register. The city has an active Historic Preservation Commission that has worked to preserve some of the most important structures in the community since 1989.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://library.municode.com/index.aspx?clientId=10099 |title=Municode |deadurl=no |accessdate=May 27, 2014}}</ref> The following structures and districts are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

===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===
* [[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]]

==Notable people== <!--consensus reached to standardize this heading per WikiProject Cities/US Guideline-->
<!-- NOTICE * * * NOTICE * * * NOTICE * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *NOTICE * * * NOTICE * * * NOTICE
Only people who already have a Wikipedia article may appear here as Notable people. This establishes notability.
All others will be deleted without further explanation.
The biographical article should say how they are associated with THIS CITY examples = born, raised, residing etc.
An external reliable source of their association with THIS CITY should be cited in their Article and MUST be cited HERE.
Alphabetical by last name please. Use a short one line description of Notability.
If the person you think is Notable and does not have a Wikipedia Article for themselves create one.
Guidelines for the Notability of a person can be found by entering WP:PEOPLE in the wiki search.
Guidelines on what is needed and how to write the Article can be found by entering WP:MOSBIO in the wiki search.
END OF NOTICE * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * END OF NOTICE * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *END OF NOTICE -->

[[Image:Tom Arnold by David Shankbone.jpg|thumb|175px|[[Tom Arnold (actor)|Tom Arnold]]]]

* [[Tom Arnold (actor)|Tom Arnold]] – actor<ref>[http://www.filmreference.com/film/74/Tom-Arnold.html Tom Arnold Biography (1959–)]</ref>
* [[Tara Lynn McNitt (lifestyle blogger)|Tara Lynn McNitt]] – lifestyle blogger<ref>[http://simplytaralynn.com/ Simply Tara Lynn website (1991–)]</ref>
* [[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|accessdate=1 February 2016|agency=NASA|date=July 13, 1966}}</ref>
* [[Stephen Blumberg]] – notorious rare book thief{{citation needed|date=May 2013}}
* [[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&pg=PA503&lpg=PA503&dq=%22Edna+Ferber%22+stomach+cancer&ct=result#v=onepage&q=ottumwa&f=false|last=Shuman|first=Baird|title=Great American Writers: Twentieth Century|publisher= Marshall Cavendish|year=2002|isbn=9780761472407 |deadurl=no |accessdate=May 27, 2014}}</ref>
* [[Anne Marie Howard]] – actress{{citation needed|date=May 2013}}
* [[Donald Keyhoe]] – [[Marine Corps]] major and aviator, [[UFO]] researcher and author{{citation needed|date=May 2013}}
* [[Dan Knight]] – jazz pianist, [[Steinway & Sons|Steinway]] artist, composer, [[Pulitzer Prize]] nominee{{citation needed|date=May 2013}}
* [[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 |accessdate=December 19, 2010}}</ref>
* [[E. J. Mather]] – college football and basketball player and coach
* [[Jack E. McCoy]] – Iowa state legislator<ref>[http://www.iowa.legis.gov/legislators/legislator/legislatorAllYears?personID=1721 Iowa General Assembly-Jack E. McCoy]</ref>
* [[Russell Means]] – American Indian activist; attended junior college in Ottumwa{{citation needed|date=May 2013}}
* [[Karen Morley]] – actress{{citation needed|date=May 2013}}
* [[Carol Morris]] – [[Miss Iowa USA]] 1956, [[Miss USA 1956]], [[Miss Universe 1956]], actress<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.desmoinesregister.com/article/99999999/FAMOUSIOWANS/399990424/Morris-Carol|title=Famous Iowans – Morris, Carol|publisher=The Des Moines Register|accessdate=December 23, 2010}}</ref>
* [[Harry Ostdiek]] – [[Major League Baseball]] player{{citation needed|date=May 2013}}
* [[Beverley Owen]] – actress{{citation needed|date=May 2013}}
* [[J. R. Richards]] – musician/songwriter, author of "A Tribute to the American Farmer".<ref>{{cite news|url = https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/131948606/|date = April 7, 1985|accessdate = September 6, 2016|newspaper = [[The Des Moines Register]]|page = 15|title = More Songs for Farmers|last = Taylor|first = Warren}}</ref>
* Don Shaffer – the man whom the [[M*A*S*H]] character [[Radar O'Reilly]] was based upon.
* [[Hal Walker]] (1896–1972) – film director
* [[Jake Weimer]] (1873–1928) – [[Major League Baseball]] player 1903–05<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/w/weimeja01.shtml|title=BASEBALL-Reference|publisher=Jake Weimer|accessdate=December 19, 2010}}</ref>

==Fictional people==
* [[Radar O'Reilly|Cpl. Walter "Radar" O'Reilly]] – fictional character from the book, movie, and series ''[[M*A*S*H]]''

==Namesake==
* The U.S. Navy harbor tug [[USS Ottumwa (YTB-761)]] was named for the city.

==References==
{{reflist|colwidth=30em}}

==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
* {{dmoz|Regional/North_America/United_States/Iowa/Localities/O/Ottumwa/}}
* {{Cite EB1911|wstitle=Ottumwa|short=x}}
* {{Cite EB9|wstitle=Ottumwa|volume=18 |short=x}}
* [http://picasaweb.google.com/slakingfool/TheLostCityOfOttumwa?feat=directlink ''The Lost City of Ottumwa''] photo gallery on Picasa Web Albums
*[http://www.ottumwa.com Ottumwa Courier] Local newspaper online
* [http://www.city-data.com/city/Ottumwa-Iowa.html City Data] Comprehensive Statistical Data and more about Ottumwa
* {{Internet Archive short film|id=gov.archives.arc.2569655|name=Big Picture: Ottumwa, U.S.A.}}

<br/><!--this break is to put visual space between the last information and the following template-->
{{Wapello County, Iowa}}

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