[7] The town was named after Mauna Loa, in Hawaii, by a Mormon missionary who had returned from that place.

[8] According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 0.9 square mile (2.3 km2), which is all land.

Loa sits beside the only source of water known as Spring Creek, which rises 4 miles (6 km) to the north where today is located the state fish hatchery.

The racial makeup of the town was 99.24% White, 0.38% Native American and 0.38% Pacific Islander.

16.4% of all households were made up of single individuals and 10.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.