Explore Ottumwa, Iowa, with this interactive street and satellite map.
This page also offers TOPO MAPS — the official USGS topographic sheets — plus USGS aerial imagery, a labelled USNG grid overlay, a distance and bearing tool, and a GPS grid-reference readout. See How to Use This Map below.
This interactive map shows the street layout and satellite imagery for Ottumwa, Iowa. Use the Map and Satellite buttons above to switch between street map and aerial imagery views. Use the + and − buttons to zoom in or out, or scroll your mouse wheel while holding the Control key to zoom. On a touchscreen, use a two-finger pinch gesture. Drag the map to pan to any area of Iowa or beyond.
Click ⛶ Fullscreen to expand the map to fill your screen. To return to the normal page view, press the Escape key, click the ✕ Exit Fullscreen button that appears above the map, or on a mobile device tap the back button (Android) or the close icon (iOS).
TOPO MAPS — NEW. Click the green 🔍 Search Maps button below the map to open a second map with a Base map row offering three choices. OSM is the standard OpenStreetMap street map. Topo shows the official USGS topographic maps from The National Map — contours, hydrography, land cover and shaded relief, the same mapping used for hiking, hunting and back-country navigation in the Adirondacks, the Catskills and the Finger Lakes. Imagery shows USGS aerial photography, mostly 1-metre NAIP. The search box finds any US town, county or landmark by name, so you are not limited to Ottumwa.
Reading the map like a paper quad. Click Grid to overlay the U.S. National Grid (USNG), labelled along the edges exactly as a printed topographic sheet is — at normal zoom the squares are one kilometre across, so you can read a six-figure grid reference by eye and judge distance directly off the map. Click Measure, then tap two points, to get the distance between them together with the grid bearing in degrees and mils, the true bearing, and the magnetic bearing to set on a compass.
Click 📍 My position to take a single GPS reading from your device. It marks where you are and reports your position as a USNG grid reference as well as plain latitude and longitude — USNG being the format FEMA and US search and rescue teams work from — with a Copy position button so you can paste it straight into a text message. It takes one reading and stops, rather than tracking continuously, to conserve your battery. Note that map tiles need cell coverage, but a GPS reading does not — your coordinates stay correct even where the map itself cannot load.
| City | Ottumwa |
| State | Iowa (IA) |
| County | Wapello County |
| Country | United States of America |
| Timezone | Central Time (America/Chicago) |
| Latitude | 41.022251 |
| Longitude | -92.423263 |
| Population | 25,529 |
| Density | 613.7 /km² |
| Incorporated | Yes |
| ZIP Code | 52501 |
| Area Code | 712 |
| County Seat | Ottumwa |
| School District | Ottumwa Community School District |
Ottumwa occupies a significant stretch of territory where the Des Moines River curves with deliberate grace through a landscape of expansive, tilled plains. It lies 22.6 miles south-southeast of Oskaloosa, IA (from Oskaloosa, IA: bearing 148°T), and is situated 18.5 miles north of Bloomfield. The earth here possesses a deep, dark fertility that supports endless rows of corn and soybeans, stretching toward the horizon under a vast and shifting sky. Beyond the riverbanks, the terrain rises into subtle, rolling elevations that define the character of the regional topography. A short distance away, the quiet waters of Lake Wapello offer a serene contrast to the persistent movement of the nearby river. Central Park provides a green, quiet anchor in the center of the grid, where the light at dusk often catches the leaves in a way that makes the entire afternoon feel suspended in time.
Ottumwa grew into a hub of activity as the expansion of the rail lines and the productivity of the land drew settlers eager to cultivate the rich soil. The local economy has long been defined by its industrial capacity, shifting from early coal mining and meatpacking roots toward a modern focus on manufacturing and distribution. This evolution reflects the pragmatic spirit of a population that has consistently adapted to the changing demands of the national market. The rhythm of daily life is dictated by the steady output of these industries, which provide a foundation for the families who call the region home. Even as the workforce changes, the connection to the land remains a primary thread in the economic identity of the area.
Ottumwa maintains a distinct cultural character shaped by the steady, unshowy civility of its residents and a history marked by quiet perseverance. The city honors its past through the preservation of local landmarks and the maintenance of spaces like Central Park, which serves as a frequent site for community gatherings and seasonal events. Among those who have emerged from this environment to wider recognition, the actor Tom Arnold remains perhaps the most well-known figure with roots in the area. The local pace is marked by a deliberate, grounded quality that favors practical action over pretense. Visitors often find that the true nature of the place reveals itself not in grand gestures, but in the small, consistent kindnesses exchanged during a typical workday.
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This page provides an embedded street and satellite map of Ottumwa, Iowa. Coordinates: 41.022251, -92.423263. Live weather conditions are sourced directly from the National Weather Service. Real-time local and world news feeds keep the page current.
Detailed location data for Ottumwa includes the ZIP code (52501), telephone area code (712), county seat of Wapello County (Ottumwa), and school district assignment (Ottumwa Community School District).
Search Maps opens a second, independent map. It searches OpenStreetMap for any US town, county or landmark by name; offers USGS topographic maps and USGS aerial imagery as base layers; overlays a labelled U.S. National Grid (USNG) so the map can be read like a printed topographic quad; measures distance and grid, true and magnetic bearings between any two points; and takes a single GPS fix reporting your position as a USNG grid reference and as latitude and longitude. Map tiles require cell coverage, but a GPS position does not, so the coordinates remain correct even where the map cannot load.
Location data is drawn from the USGS Geographic Names Information System (GNIS) and cross-verified against 2020 US Census records by coordinate proximity. Population figures are sourced from the 2020 US Census.
| Page generated | September 2026 |
| Location data | SimpleMaps US Cities Database; coordinates matched to USGS GNIS definitive data |
| Map layers | Google Maps; © OpenStreetMap contributors; USGS The National Map topographic and aerial imagery (public domain); magnetic declination from NOAA NCEI (World Magnetic Model) |
| Wikipedia validation | Article content matched to USGS GNIS coordinates via Wikipedia geosearch API. |