Iowa

Tama

17,135

2020 population

1850

first census record

census records

About Tama

Tama, Iowa, first appears in the United States federal census in 1850, when it recorded a population of 8. At the most recent census, in 2020, its population stood at 17,135.

Its recorded population peaked at 24,585 in 1900, and has since declined by roughly 30 percent.

On the ground today, one documented military engagement has been recorded within the county, among them Iowa Copperhead Conspiracy — Skunk River War, and 13 places are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Population by decade

Census Year	Population	Chart
2020	17,135
2010	17,767
2000	18,103
1990	17,419
1980	19,533
1970	20,147
1960	21,413
1950	21,688
1940	22,428
1930	21,987
1920	21,861
1910	22,156
1900	24,585
1890	22,052
1880	21,585
1870	16,131
1860	5,285
1850	8

Source

Population data from the United States decennial census, U.S. Census Bureau (public domain).

Battles & engagements in Tama

Military engagements that took place in Tama, Iowa.

Iowa Copperhead Conspiracy — Skunk River War

1863

Historic places in Tama

National Register of Historic Places listings in Tama, Iowa.

Tama County Jail

Toledo

Lincoln Highway Bridge

Star-Clipper-Canfield Building and Winding Stairway

Traer

Conant's Cabin and Park

Gladbrook

First United Brethren Church

Toledo

Hope Fire Company Engine House

Toledo

Tama County Courthouse

Toledo

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Everything a full report reveals about Tama County, Iowa

This page charts the census history of Tama County, Iowa. A full Aubrey report for an address here pulls together everything the historical record holds about the ground, from the earliest settlement to the twentieth century:

Overview

An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.

The Land

The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.

Geology

The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.

LiDAR Terrain

Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.

Conflict & War

The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.

The Civil War

The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.

The Soldiers

The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.

Native Heritage

The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.

Settlement

Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.

The Community

How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.

Rivers & Rail

The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.

Notable People

The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.

Historical Maps

Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.

Finds & Access

Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.

Literature

The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.

Spotlight

A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.

Points of Interest

The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.

Timeline

The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.

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Frequently asked about Tama

When does Tama first appear in the US census?

Tama, Iowa first appears in the federal census in 1850, with a recorded population of 8.

What is the population of Tama?

At the most recent federal census (2020), Tama had a recorded population of 17,135.

When did Tama's population peak?

Tama's recorded population peaked at 24,585 in 1900.

Were any battles fought in Tama?

1 documented military engagement took place in Tama, including Iowa Copperhead Conspiracy — Skunk River War.

How many historic places are in Tama?

13 sites are listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Tama, Iowa.

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