Wapello County, Iowa

Founding: 1844 (declared in 1843)
Parent county: Unorganized territory

Namesake: Wapello, Meskwaki chief
Seat: Ottumwa (1844–)

Land area: 432 square miles

Population (2020): 35,437

Population (historic): 8,471 (1850); 22,345 (1870); 30,436 (1890); 37,743 (1910); 40,480 (1930)

Periods of population growth: pre-1850–1950; 1990s

Subdivisions: Six cities; 14 townships

National Register listings: 32

Pre-1940 residences (estimated): 5,738 (35.7%)
Pre-1940 housing survival rate: 45%
Pre-1860 housing survival rate (1940): 4.3%

Farm housing in disrepair (1950): 8.4%

Nonfarm housing in disrepair (1950): 6.3%

Average farmhouse value (1930): $2,022
Average outbuilding value (1930): $1,564
Average farmhouse size (1940): 5.7 rooms
Number of farms (1920): 2,112
Average farm size (1920): 96.3 acres
Sources of settlement: Ohio, Indiana, Pennsylvania, Illinois, Kentucky, Virginia, Ireland, West Virginia, Sweden, and Germany
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Ottumwa

Namesake: A Meskwaki word of disputed meaning

Founding: 1843 (platting as Louisville); 1844 (post office); 1888 (incorporation)

Population (2020): 25,529

Population (historic): 1,632 (1860); 9,004 (1880); 18,197 (1900); 28,075 (1930)

Periods of population growth: pre-1860–1960; 1990–2020
Pre-1940 residences (estimated): 4,423 (39.8%)
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Outstanding Buildings

1. Avondale / Clyde Baldwin House (c. 1920). 5724 165th Road. Competine. Prairie.
2. *Mars Hill Baptist Church (c. 1855). 1011 100th Road. Keokuk.
3. George Blair House (c. 1865). 11339 River Road. Keokuk.