[8] Located in the state's southeastern section, the city is split into northern and southern halves by the Des Moines River.

The city's name derives from the Native American Meskwaki language, translating to "tumbling waters" in reference to the Appanoose Rapids on the Des Moines River.

[9][10] In May 1843, several investors formed the Appanoose Rapids Company and staked claim to 467 acres of land in the present site of Ottumwa.

[12] In 1857, coal was being mined from the McCready bank, a site along Bear Creek four miles west of Ottumwa.

In subsequent years, they opened 5 more shafts in the Phillips and Rutledge neighborhoods, just north of Ottumwa.

[13] The Phillips number 5 shaft was 140 feet (43 meters) deep, with a 375-HP steam hoist.

John Morrell & Company and their meat packing comples played a significant role in the development of Ottumwa from 1877 to 1973.

The availability of rail transportation encouraged both commercial and industrial expansion along the northwest to southeast axis.

Access to the south bank of the river at first was by ferry from the foot of Green Street.

By 1875 this ferry had been replaced by a bridge, and a number of additions had been made to the city during the first thirty years, all located on the north side of the Des Moines River.

As development (almost exclusively residential) climbed the bluffs, the streets on top of the hills were laid out to compass points, rather than parallel to the river.

As of the 2000 United States Census, there were 24,998 people, 10,383 households, and 6,530 families residing in the city.

For this reason, Ottumwa's mayor proclaimed the city the "Video Game Capital of the World" in 1982.

Ottumwa is served by Ottumwa High School, Evans Junior High, and multiple neighborhood elementary schools including Douma and Liberty on the Southern side of the city, and James, Horace Mann, Wilson, Eisenhower, and Fahrney Elementary serving the Northern side.

Paired with Kirksville, Missouri, Ottumwa is a media market region, ranked #201 by Nielsen.

Dual ABC/CBS affiliate KTVO (channel 3) is licensed to and has its main offices near Kirksville, but has a second studio and news bureau in Ottumwa.

Amtrak, the national passenger rail system, provides service to the Ottumwa Amtrak station, operating its California Zephyr daily in both directions between Chicago, Illinois, and Emeryville, California, across the San Francisco Bay from San Francisco.

Route 63 now bypasses the town as part of the Burlington to Des Moines expressway.

The Jefferson Street Viaduct over the Des Moines River is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

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.