Townapedia
The Porter Hall, Centerville, Iowa
The Porter Hall, Centerville, Iowa · Jim Roberts, CC BY-SA 4.0
The Second Baptist Church Centerville, Iowa
The Second Baptist Church Centerville, Iowa · Jim Roberts, CC BY-SA 4.0
Centerville Arrow 2
Centerville Arrow 2 · Aldimafra, CC BY-SA 4.0
The United States Post Office Centerville, Iowa
The United States Post Office Centerville, Iowa · Jim Roberts, CC BY-SA 4.0
Centerville, IA Historic Courthouse panoramic view
Centerville, IA Historic Courthouse panoramic view · Aldimafra, CC BY-SA 4.0
Centerville, IA Historic Courthouse panoramic view (cropped)
Centerville, IA Historic Courthouse panoramic view (cropped) · Aldimafra, CC BY-SA 4.0

Centerville, Iowa

Centerville is a city of 5,372 people in Appanoose County, Iowa, founded in 1846.

Loading the weather...
Population5,372 -1.6% since 2019
Elevation1,007 ft 307 m
Founded1846
Land area4.9 sq mi
ZIP code52544
Nearest airportOttumwa Regional Airport (OTM) 34 mi

Why visit Centerville

Townapedia lists 13 museums and landmarks, 2 parks and trails, 5 places to eat, 2 places to stay and 3 attractions in and around town.

Highlights include Cinema 4, The Majestic Theater, Drake Public Library and Appanoose County Courthouse.

July is the warmest month, with average highs of 86°F; January lows average 12°F, and about 22 inches of snow fall in a normal year.

About Centerville

Centerville is a city in and the county seat of Appanoose County, Iowa, United States. The population was 5,412 in the 2020 census, a decline from 5,924 in 2000. After the turn of the 20th century Centerville's coal mining industry attracted European immigrants from Sweden, Italy, Croatia, and Albania. Centerville is also home of the largest town square in the state of Iowa and a campus of Indian Hills Community College.

From the Wikipedia article Centerville, Iowa (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Things to do3

Cinema 4

Cinema and theater · 1.1 mi

1013 North 18th Street, Centerville

Open in Google Maps

The Majestic Theater

Cinema and theater

100 North 13th Street, Centerville

Open in Google Maps · +1-641-437-1025

The Ritz

Cinema and theater · 0.5 mi

Open in Google Maps

Museums and landmarks13

Drake Public Library

Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places

Public library in Centerville, Iowa, United States

Open in Google Maps · Wikipedia

Appanoose County Courthouse

Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.4 mi

County courthouse in Centerville, Iowa

Open in Google Maps · Wikipedia

Appanoose County Sheriff's House and Jail

Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.6 mi

United States historic place

Open in Google Maps · Wikipedia

Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad Depot

Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places

Railway station in Centerville, the United States of America

Open in Google Maps · Wikipedia

Courthouse Square Historic District

Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.4 mi

Historic district in Centerville, Iowa

Open in Google Maps · Wikipedia

Porter Hall

Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places

Historic house in Iowa, United States

Open in Google Maps · Wikipedia

Stratton House

Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.5 mi

Historic house in Iowa, United States

Open in Google Maps · Wikipedia

Sturdivant-Sawyer House

Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places

Historic residence located in Centerville, Iowa, United States

Open in Google Maps · Wikipedia

United States Post Office

Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places

Historic building in Centerville, Iowa, USA

Open in Google Maps · Wikipedia

Vermilion Estate

Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places

Historic building located in Centerville, Iowa, United States

Open in Google Maps · Wikipedia

1 more on the map.

Parks, trails and playgrounds2

Leah Bradley Park

Park · 1.6 mi

Open in Google Maps

Morgan Cline City Park

Park · 0.4 mi

Open in Google Maps

Advertisement

Restaurants and cafes5

Jing Jing

Restaurant · Chinese · 0.8 mi

717 1/2 North 18th Street, Centerville

Open in Google Maps · +16418565388

Lucile's Steaks and Spirits

Restaurant · American, Burger, Breakfast, Wine, Beer, Bar, Cocktails, Steak · 0.4 mi

217 North 13th Street, Centerville

Mo-Sa 07:00-20:00, Su 07:00-15:00

Open in Google Maps

My Place Party Lounge

Bar and pub · 0.5 mi

301 West State Street, Centerville

Open in Google Maps · +16414371312

McDonald's

Fast food · Burger · 1.0 mi

1000 North 18th Street

Mo-Su 06:00-23:00

Open in Google Maps · +1 641-437-4354

Hardee's

Fast food · Burger

100 East Maple Street, Centerville

Open in Google Maps · +1 641-856-8110

History

Founded in 1846 by Jonathon Stratton under the name of "Chaldea," the city was planned around a unique two-block long city square. The name was later changed to Senterville, named after William Tandy Senter, a prominent Tennessee politician. When incorporation papers were filed in 1855, someone mistook the name for a misspelling and corrected it to Centerville. Incorporation was made official on January 23, 1857.

From the History section of Centerville, Iowa on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Where to stay2

Churches and places of worship23

Advertisement

Shopping3

Schools, colleges and libraries14

Healthcare2

Advertisement

Map of Centerville

67 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.

Climate by month

20°40°60°80°January: 1.0 in of rainFebruary: 1.3 in of rainMarch: 2.1 in of rainApril: 3.9 in of rainMay: 5.2 in of rainJune: 4.7 in of rainJuly: 3.5 in of rainAugust: 3.9 in of rainSeptember: 3.9 in of rainOctober: 3.0 in of rainNovember: 2.2 in of rainDecember: 1.5 in of rainJanuary: 33°FFebruary: 38°FMarch: 50°FApril: 63°FMay: 72°FJune: 82°FJuly: 86°FAugust: 84°FSeptember: 76°FOctober: 64°FNovember: 50°FDecember: 38°FJanuary: 12°FFebruary: 16°FMarch: 26°FApril: 37°FMay: 48°FJune: 59°FJuly: 63°FAugust: 61°FSeptember: 52°FOctober: 41°FNovember: 28°FDecember: 18°FJFMAMJJASOND
Average high Average low Rain
Monthly table
MonthHighLowRainSnow
Jan33°F12°F1.0 in7.1 in
Feb38°F16°F1.3 in5.0 in
Mar50°F26°F2.1 in3.2 in
Apr63°F37°F3.9 in1.7 in
May72°F48°F5.2 in0.0 in
Jun82°F59°F4.7 in0.0 in
Jul86°F63°F3.5 in0.0 in
Aug84°F61°F3.9 in0.0 in
Sep76°F52°F3.9 in0.0 in
Oct64°F41°F3.0 in0.3 in
Nov50°F28°F2.2 in1.9 in
Dec38°F18°F1.5 in2.3 in

U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Centerville (1 mi away), NOAA NCEI.

People and cost of living

$46,563median household income
$103,000median home value
$755median monthly rent
40.9median age
16.7%of adults have a bachelor's degree or higher
55.9%of homes are owner-occupied
14.4 minaverage commute
Age of residents
Under 1820%18 to 3418%35 to 6440%65 and over22%

American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2020-2024, U.S. Census Bureau. Estimates have margins of error, larger for small towns.

Disaster history

Appanoose County has had 13 federal disaster declarations since 2000, most often for severe storms.

  • 2022-02-23: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Tornadoes (Severe Storm)
  • 2020-03-23: Covid-19 Pandemic (Biological)
  • 2020-03-13: Covid-19 (Biological)
  • 2019-03-23: Severe Storms And Flooding (Flood)
  • 2015-07-31: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding (Severe Storm)
  • 2013-07-02: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding (Severe Storm)

OpenFEMA disaster declarations summaries.

Getting there and nearby towns

Ottumwa Regional Airport (OTM) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 34 miles away.

  • Moulton 11 mi east, about 17 min by car
  • Albia 21 mi north, about 34 min by car
  • Corydon 23 mi west, about 38 min by car
  • Bloomfield 24 mi east, about 38 min by car
  • Ottumwa 31 mi northeast, about 50 min by car
  • Eddyville 32 mi northeast, about 52 min by car
  • Kirksville 40 mi southeast, about 1 h by car
  • Oskaloosa 41 mi north, about 1 h by car
  • Pella 47 mi north, about 1 h 15 min by car
  • New Sharon 53 mi north, about 1 h 30 min by car

Drive times are estimates from straight-line distance, not routes.

Reviews, tips and questions

Loading what members have shared...

Sources and licences

Photo credits

Page built October 30, 2026. Spotted a mistake? Tell us or suggest a place.