Ottumwa Public Library

Ottumwa's Beginnings

Ottumwa is located in southeastern Iowa. The city drapes across the beautiful Des Moines River Valley, its earliest shelters dotting the surrounding bluffs and hills. Ottumwa was first occupied by settlers in 1843. Prior to that, however, it was home to three Native American villages: those of Chief Wapello, Chief Keokuk, and Chief Appanoose.

Its name is of Native American origin, and was originally “Ottumwanoc” (“noc” being the suffix for “place.”) For a time in 1844, Ottumwa was called “Louisville,” a name suggested by the commissioners who presided over the opening of the territory to white settlers. The Appanoose Rapids Company (a group of pioneers who laid out the town) objected to this name change, however, and their opinion won out. Today Ottumwa bears its original name “Ottumwa” because of these pioneers. There is some controversy over what the Native American name “Ottumwa” actually means. There are two opinions: place of swift water or rapids, and place of perseverance or self-will.