Tama was first counted by the census in 1870, and 31% of its homes were built before 1940
More historic than 66% of U.S. towns · #78 of 140 in Iowa. What drives it
2 places in town are on the National Register, among them a historic district with 2 buildings. Below: 1 old photo or paper, maps from 1883 on, and the census since 1870.
On its age, its old homes and the National Register, Tama is more historic than 66% of U.S. towns, #78 of 140 in Iowa. Its share of homes from before 1940 holds the grade up; its age pulls it down.
B+
HistoryA character grade: shown, never part of Tama’s overall grade.
Iowa towns list more on the Register than most of the country (a typical Iowa town has 9.1 per 10,000 residents, the U.S. 2.4), so Tama’s 6.6 sits near the middle of its state (49% of Iowa towns have fewer) while its 2 listings outnumber those of 60% of U.S. towns.
How sure. Graded on any two of the three inputs instead, the letter would range from C+ to A−. The pre-1940 share is a Census survey estimate (±7.9 points).
Founding year: the first census (other dates in Quick answers). Homes: Census ACS 2020–24. National Register: National Park Service, May 2026 list; each listing counted once (boundary changes and added documentation belong to their listing), and a historic district counts its contributing buildings. How TownRatings grades history →
What stands out about Tama’s past
Read from the archive, the National Register and the record. The page puts what stands out first.
Fire insurance maps drew every building, what it was made of and what it was used for, so insurers could price the risk of fire. Pick a year, then a sheet.
1883Sheet 1 of 1
Edition
Sheets
BrickWoodStone
Sanborn Map Company, via the Library of Congress. Editions published in 1930 or earlier, which are in the public domain.
Places that used to be
Lost post offices and burying grounds
Tama’s post office has been open since 1887. Two other post offices opened and closed inside today’s town.
Iuka
1863–1866
Tama City
1866–1887
Tama
1887–today
18601940today
1cemetery inside Tama
Oak Hill
US Post Offices dataset (Blevins & Helbock, CC0). Places and cemeteries from the USGS Geographic Names Information System (2021).
Tama got its start in the year 1862, following construction of the Cedar Rapids and Missouri River Railroad through the territory.
Tama is located a few miles from the Meskwaki Settlement, Iowa's only significant Native American community. Tama was located on the historic Lincoln Highway and is home to an original Lincoln Highway bridge, listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Tama is named for Taimah, the 19th century Meskwaki leader.
Passages that mention Tama, cut from the printed page as they were published.
History of Tama County, Iowa, together with sketches of their towns, villages and townships, educational, civil, military and political history ... and biographies of representative citizens. History of Iowa, embracing accounts of the pre-historic races,1883 · page 976Read the page →
Read the text
most inland towns, she would be no better off to-day, and to use the words of one of the early settlers: "In the language of Mahomet reversed, if Tama City can't go to the water, then the water must come to Tama City." In the early days of this part of the county, Charles Irish, while surveying in company with J. H. Ilollen
Text read by machine from the scan; it may contain errors.
history of tama county, iowa its cities, towns and villages1879 · page 223Read the page →
Read the text
When the beautiful town of Tama was first laid out it was called Iuka,* but soon changed to its present name Taina City. In 1862, at which time the extension of the Cedar Rapids and Missouri, now known as the Chicago & Nerthwestern Railroad reached this point, it was first founded and being for a considerable time the terminus of the road, the place was soon established in the minds of men of good judgment, as one destined at an early.day, to be what it has since proven, a town of no
Text read by machine from the scan; it may contain errors.
History of Tama County, Iowa, together with sketches of their towns, villages and townships, educational, civil, military and political history ... and biographies of representative citizens. History of Iowa, embracing accounts of the pre-historic races,1883 · page 953Read the page →
Read the text
Soon after this, settlers began to arrive rapidly, locating in other townships adjoining this settlement. At this time the territory of Tama was a part of Toledo township, but these settlements were made in what is now embraced in the civil township of Tama. Among other early settlers in this vicinity were Norman
Text read by machine from the scan; it may contain errors.
History of Tama County, Iowa. Its cities, towns and villages, with early reminiscences, personal incidents and anecdotes and a complete business directory of the county1879 · page 40Read the page →
Read the text
Not until the tall of 1862 did the settlers of Tama County receive the benefits of a home market and realize the advantage of a Railroad. When the Chicago & Northwestern Railroad reached Tama City, then luka, it opened a transptn-tation to Eastern markets and established a home market for the producers of Tama County.
Text read by machine from the scan; it may contain errors.
Scans and text from the Internet Archive. Books published in 1930 or earlier, which are in the public domain.
Timeline
Tama, 1863 to 1983
Woven from the archive, old maps, post office records, the National Register and the people born here.
The Tama post office opened in 1870, the earliest record of the town by name (U.S. post office records).
How does Tama rank for history?
Tama is more historic than 66% of U.S. towns, #78 of 140 in Iowa. The History grade combines the town’s founding era, the share of homes built before 1940 and its National Register listings. It’s a character grade, so it isn’t part of the overall grade. How it works.
What is on the National Register in Tama?
Two places: the Lincoln Highway Bridge (listed 1978) and the King Tower Historic District (2020).
How old are the homes in Tama?
31% of Tama’s homes were built before 1940 (Census estimate, ±7.9 points), against a typical 22% for an Iowa town; the median home was built in 1960.
Founding dates: Wikidata, Wikipedia, the U.S. post office records of Blevins & Helbock (CC0) and the Census. Homes by year built: Census ACS 2020–24. National Register of Historic Places: National Park Service (list of May 22, 2026). Old photos, postcards and papers: Wikimedia Commons, the Library of Congress and other public archives, credited on each item’s page. Maps: U.S. Geological Survey historical topographic maps (via Esri) and Sanborn fire-insurance maps (Library of Congress). History text and census tables: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0). Places that used to be: USGS Geographic Names Information System (2021).
From Wikimedia Commons (7), the Library of Congress (1), Wikidata (1), the National Register of Historic Places (2), Wikipedia, Wikidata and Wikipedia for famous people, U.S. Geological Survey historical maps, U.S. Census counts (via Wikipedia), the US Post Offices dataset (Blevins & Helbock), the USGS Geographic Names Information System, Sanborn fire insurance maps (Library of Congress) and old county and town histories (Internet Archive). Archive images are copied here with their credits and licenses, shown on each photo’s page. Refreshed monthly.
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