THE STORY OF TAMA…

Tama was platted in the year 1862 and was first called Iuka in honor of the men from Tama County who had participated in the battle of Iuka, MS. Later the name was changed to Tama City and then to Tama, its present name. Tama is an Indian word “te-i-o-ma-ha’s” which means “the thunder that make the earth tremble”. He was a fox or Meskwaki brave who led the most pow-erful secret society called Midewiwin, and was known to lead chiefs and war-riors into battle. His name is preserved in the names Tama County and the city of Tama. The only original Lincoln Highway Bridge still in existence is located in Tama and is on the National Register of Historic Places. Another landmark is the Cherry Mansion, built in 1903 and valued at more than $1M in 1949, its grounds once included a six-hole golf course and a private landing strip, it is now a private residence. Tama is also the home of Iowa’s oldest recycle pa-per mill. Tama’s annual Lincoln Highway Bridge Festival is celebrated in May of each year. Tama City Hall 305 Siegel Street, Tama, IA 52339 641-484-3822 tamacity@iowatelecom.net www.tamacity.govoffice2.com

POPULATION 2,731 DEMOGRAPHICS White……………….…...…87.0% African American……………0.4% American Indian:…………….4.8% Asian: ……………………….0.4% Native Hawaiian……………0.0% Other race……………….….5.2% Two or more races…………..2.1% Hispanic or Latino (of any race)....9.6%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2000

SOCIAL CHARACTERISTICS High school grad or higher…...85% Bachelors degree or higher......11% Civilian veterans….....………..13% Disability status………….…...20%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2000

WORKFORCE In labor force (age 16+):.....63.8% Ave. travel time to work.....18.9 min Median family income:…..$43,750 Families below poverty level:.8.8%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2000

www.tamacountyiowa.org

TAMA IOWA

GEOGRAPHY/CLIMATE: Gently rolling mid-continent fertile/high yield farmlands. Ave. High Low Precip. Snow Summer 83 61 13 0 Winter 31 14 4 21

Source: National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration, 2007

EMPLOYMENT: Corn, soybeans, cattle, & hogs anchor the agricultural economy. Larger payrolls: Meskwaki Casino…..…………1100 STC School District……..……….250 Tama PaperBoard………………96 Sunny Hill Care Center…….……45 Tama Livestock Auction ………....40 Source: Tama Co. Economic Development, 2009

FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS Lincoln Savings Bank…..$340 million total deposits

Source: Federal Deposit Ins. Corp., 2008

TAXES: Sales tax:……..….….……… 7% State income tax......0.36%-8.98% (plus a base rate)

Source: Iowa Department of Revenue, 2008

HOUSING median value of single family house….…...$58,400 median mortgage:…………..$734

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2000

UTILITIES: Electric……...………Alliant Energy Natural gas………...Alliant Energy Water…………...…. City of Tama Sewer…….………….City of Tama Phone…………….....Iowa Telecom Internet.........................Iowa Telecom Internet……….....……...Mediacom TV Cable……….….…...Mediacom EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS: South Tama Co. Comm. School District Elementary…………….…..Tama Middle school……………...Toledo High school………………...Tama Enrollment………………..…1,637 Graduation rate……………..87.5% Curriculum units taught……..60.75 Total units required………...25.0 Marshalltown Comm College..20 mi Iowa State University…….......55 mi Univ of Northern Iowa…...…..38 mi University of Iowa………........57 mi

Source: Iowa Department of Education, 2008

HEALTH CARE: Mercy Care Tama……...1 physician Volunteer EMS……..…..…...37 crew Sunny Hill Care Center…….60 beds TAMA PUBLIC LIBRARY: Books & serial volumes:…...24,673 Total circulation:………..….42,104 Children’s materials:.……....14,150 Public internet terminals……..….12

Source: National Center for Education Statistics, 2005

HOUSES OF WORSHIP Baptist Catholic Lutheran Quaker RECREATION: City park (playground, baseball dia-

mond, soccer field), aquatic center,

rec trail spanning the western edge of

Tama and neighboring Toledo. ATV

park at southern edge of Tama. Iowa

River runs south of Tama. Swimming,

fishing, boating at Otter Creek Lake &

Park, northeast of Tama.

TAMA, IOWA FACTS | Page 2

Updated 07/2009