Iowa

Wapello

35,437
2020 population
1850
first census record
18
census records

About Wapello

Wapello, Iowa, first appears in the United States federal census in 1850, when it recorded a population of 8,471. At the most recent census, in 2020, its population stood at 35,437.

Its recorded population peaked at 47,397 in 1950, and has since declined by roughly 25 percent.

On the ground today, 31 places are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Population by decade

Census YearPopulationChart
202035,437
201035,625
200036,051
199035,687
198040,241
197042,149
196046,126
195047,397
194044,280
193040,480
192037,937
191037,743
190035,426
189030,426
188025,285
187022,346
186014,518
18508,471
Source

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

Historic places in Wapello

National Register of Historic Places listings in Wapello, Iowa.

Hotel Ottumwa
Ottumwa
Jefferson Street Viaduct
Ottumwa
Burlington Depot
Ottumwa
Dibble House
Eldon
Mars Hill
Ottumwa
Agassiz School
Ottumwa
Ottumwa Public Library
Ottumwa
Garner, J.W., Building
Ottumwa
Ottumwa Cemetery Historic District
Ottumwa
B'nai Jacob Synagogue
Ottumwa
Eldon Carnegie Public Library
Eldon
Wapello County Courthouse
Ottumwa
McHaffey Opera House
Eldon
Chief Wapello's Memorial Park
Agency
Vogel Place Historic District
Ottumwa
Court Hill Historic District
Ottumwa
Fifth Street Bluff Historic District
Ottumwa
Ottumwa Young Women's Christian Association
Ottumwa
Greater Second Street Historic District
Ottumwa
Foster/Bell House
Ottumwa
Benson Block
Ottumwa
Big 4 Fair Art Hall
Eldon
Jay Funeral Home
Ottumwa
First National Bank
Ottumwa
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Everything a full report reveals about Wapello County, Iowa

This page charts the census history of Wapello 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 Wapello

When does Wapello first appear in the US census?
Wapello, Iowa first appears in the federal census in 1850, with a recorded population of 8,471.
What is the population of Wapello?
At the most recent federal census (2020), Wapello had a recorded population of 35,437.
When did Wapello's population peak?
Wapello's recorded population peaked at 47,397 in 1950.
How many historic places are in Wapello?
31 sites are listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Wapello, Iowa.
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