Why visit Oskaloosa
Townapedia lists 37 museums and landmarks, 9 parks and trails, 17 places to eat, 6 places to stay and 4 attractions in and around town.
Highlights include William Penn University, Penn Central Theatre, Lincoln School and Oskaloosa City Hall.
July is the warmest month, with average highs of 86°F; January lows average 12°F.
Weather in Oskaloosa
Forecast from the National Weather Service. Full forecast
About Oskaloosa
Oskaloosa is a city in, and the county seat of, Mahaska County, Iowa. The population was 11,558 in the 2020 U.S. census. In the late nineteenth and early twentieth century, Oskaloosa was a national center of bituminous coal mining. Today, Oskaloosa is home to William Penn University, a private university, and Lake Keomah State Park which is located four miles east of the city.
From the Wikipedia article Oskaloosa, Iowa (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Things to do4
William Penn University
School · 1.2 mi
Private university in Oskaloosa, Iowa, United States
George Daily Community Auditorium
Cinema and theater · 1.2 mi
1800 North 3rd Street, Oskaloosa
Museums and landmarks37
Lincoln School
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.8 mi
Building in Oskaloosa, Iowa
Oskaloosa City Hall
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places
Rathaus in Iowa, United States of America
Carroll Alsop House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.9 mi
United States historic place in Oskaloosa, Iowa
Dr. Ella Stokes House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 1.0 mi
Historic house in Iowa, United States
Dr. William E. and Ethel Rosenberger Berry House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 1.0 mi
Oskaloosa, IA, listed on the NRHP in Mahaska County, Iowa
Dr. William H. and Mae R. Klose House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 1.0 mi
Historic residence located in Oskaloosa, Iowa, United States
E. H. Gibbs House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 1.2 mi
United States national historic place
Edmundson Park Historic District
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 1.1 mi
Historic district in Iowa, United States
Forest Cemetery Entrance
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.8 mi
Historic structure in Oskaloosa, Iowa
Iowa Yearly Meeting House-College Avenue Friends Church
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.9 mi
Quaker meeting house in Iowa, United States of America
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Jack Lamberson House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.9 mi
Historic house in Iowa, United States
John H. Shoemake House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places
Historic residence located in Oskaloosa, Iowa, United States
25 more on the map.
Parks, trails and playgrounds9
Restaurants and cafes17
On The Green New American Cuisine
Diner · American · 1.3 mi
2214 South 11th Street, Oskaloosa
Mo-Th 11:00-21:00, Fr-Sa 11:00-22:00, Su 11:00-20:00
Taco Bell
Fast food · Tex-Mex · 0.7 mi
702 A Avenue West, Oskaloosa
Mo-Th 08:00-02:00; Fr-Sa 08:00-03:00; Su 08:00-02:00
5 more on the map.
History
Oskaloosa derives its name from Ouscaloosa who, according to town lore, was a Creek princess who married Seminole chief Osceola. A local tradition was that her name meant "last of the beautiful". (This interpretation of "last of the beautiful" is not correct. "Oskaloosa" in the Mvskoke-Creek language means "black rain", from the Mvskoke words "oske" (rain) and "lvste" (black). "loosa" is an English corruption of the Mvskoke word "lvste". For example, see the Wikipedia entry for Tuskaloosa, eponym of the town of Tuscaloosa, Alabama. In addition the Mvskoke word "Ouscaloosa" means "Black Water"). The first European-American settlers arrived in 1835, led by Nathan Boone, youngest son of frontiersman Daniel Boone. Acting on instructions from Stephen W. Kearny, he selected this as the first site of Fort Des Moines, located on a high ridge between the Skunk and Des Moines rivers. The ridge was originally called the Narrows.
The town was formally platted in 1844 when William Canfield moved his trading post from the Des Moines River to Oskaloosa. The town was designated by the legislature as the county seat in the same year.
From the History section of Oskaloosa, Iowa on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Where to stay6
Churches and places of worship39
St. James Episcopal Church
Church · National Register of Historic Places
Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses
Church · Jehovahs Witness · 0.9 mi
1712 South Market Street, Oskaloosa
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Church · Mormon · 1.4 mi
1714 Pella Avenue, Oskaloosa
Oskaloosa Free Methodist Church
Church · Methodist · 0.4 mi
821 8th Avenue East, Oskaloosa
Shopping8
Gas and EV charging10
Schools, colleges and libraries15
Oskaloosa Public Library
Library · National Register of Historic Places
301 South Market Street, Oskaloosa
Oskaloosa Early Childhood Center - Pk
School · 1.6 mi
1521 Green Street, Oskaloosa
Healthcare4
Map of Oskaloosa
149 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.
Climate by month
Monthly table
| Month | High | Low | Rain |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 31°F | 12°F | 1.8 in |
| Feb | 36°F | 16°F | 1.7 in |
| Mar | 49°F | 27°F | 2.1 in |
| Apr | 62°F | 38°F | 3.9 in |
| May | 72°F | 51°F | 4.7 in |
| Jun | 82°F | 61°F | 5.2 in |
| Jul | 86°F | 65°F | 4.4 in |
| Aug | 84°F | 62°F | 5.1 in |
| Sep | 77°F | 53°F | 3.6 in |
| Oct | 64°F | 41°F | 2.7 in |
| Nov | 49°F | 28°F | 2.2 in |
| Dec | 36°F | 18°F | 1.4 in |
U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Oskaloosa (2 mi away), NOAA NCEI.
People and cost of living
American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2020-2024, U.S. Census Bureau. Estimates have margins of error, larger for small towns.
Disaster history
Mahaska County has had 11 federal disaster declarations since 2000, most often for severe storms.
- 2020-03-23: Covid-19 Pandemic (Biological)
- 2020-03-13: Covid-19 (Biological)
- 2019-03-23: Severe Storms And Flooding (Flood)
- 2014-08-05: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-Line Winds, And Flooding (Severe Storm)
- 2013-07-02: Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding (Severe Storm)
- 2010-07-29: Severe Storms, Flooding, And Tornadoes (Severe Storm)
OpenFEMA disaster declarations summaries.
Getting there and nearby towns
Oskaloosa Municipal Airport (OOA) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 9 miles away.
- Eddyville 9 mi south, about 15 min by car
- New Sharon 12 mi north, about 20 min by car
- Pella 16 mi northwest, about 26 min by car
- Albia 20 mi southwest, about 33 min by car
- Montezuma 21 mi north, about 34 min by car
- Ottumwa 22 mi southeast, about 35 min by car
- Sigourney 23 mi east, about 37 min by car
- Knoxville 24 mi west, about 39 min by car
- Monroe 29 mi northwest, about 46 min by car
- Grinnell 31 mi north, about 50 min by car
Drive times are estimates from straight-line distance, not routes.
Local news
Headlines from INDB, the NEMICO news database.
Reviews, tips and questions
Loading what members have shared...
Sources and licences
- NCES EDGE (Public domain): public schools
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 (Public domain): climate by month
- OpenFEMA (Public domain): disaster declarations
- OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL 1.0): places, airports, map data
- U.S. Census Bureau (Public domain): population, income, housing, education, commute
- Wikidata (CC0 1.0): elevation, founding date, time zone, website, landmarks and historic places
- Wikimedia Commons (see each image): photos
- Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0): overview and history text
Photo credits
- Oskaloosa, Iowa (14210533314), Ken Lund from Reno, Nevada, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0
- St. James Episcopal Church Oskaloosa, Iowa, Boscophotos, CC BY-SA 3.0
- The Oskaloosa Fire Station, Boscophotos, CC BY-SA 3.0
- The Oskaloosa City Hall, Boscophotos, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Oskaloosa Public Library Facing Market Street, JFaulkner, CC BY-SA 3.0
- The Oskaloosa City Park Band Stand, Boscophotos, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Mahaska County Courthouse, Oskaloosa, Iowa (46833722435), Tony Webster from Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States, CC BY 2.0
- Oskaloosa 2 (8332662562) (cropped), H. Michael Miley from Schaumburg, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Oskaloosa 1 (8332662562) (cropped), H. Michael Miley from Schaumburg, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Oskaloosa 1 (8332662562), H. Michael Miley from Schaumburg, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0
- The Lincoln School, Boscophotos, CC BY-SA 3.0
- The Stranahan House, Boscophotos, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Iowa Yearly Meeting House, Boscophotos, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Oskaloosa Monthly Meeting of Friends, Boscophotos, CC BY-SA 3.0
- The Conover House, Boscophotos, CC BY-SA 3.0
- The Lamberson House, Boscophotos, CC BY-SA 3.0
- The President's Cottage, Boscophotos, CC BY-SA 3.0
- The Forest Cemetery Entrance, Boscophotos, CC BY-SA 3.0
- The Dr. Ella Stokes House, Boscophotos, CC BY-SA 3.0
- The Johnson House, Boscophotos, CC BY-SA 3.0
- The Spurgin Residence, Boscophotos, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Edmundson Park H.D, Boscophotos, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Band Stand in Oskaloosa City Park, JFaulkner, CC BY 3.0
- The McNeill House, Boscophotos, CC BY-SA 3.0
- The Pierson-Bettis House, Boscophotos, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Oskaloosa Herald Building, Boscophotos, CC BY-SA 3.0
- The Klose House, Boscophotos, CC BY-SA 3.0
- The Stock Judgin Pavilion, Boscophotos, CC BY-SA 3.0
- The Ulsses Simpson Grant Elementary School, Boscophotos, CC BY-SA 3.0
- The Also House, Boscophotos, CC BY-SA 3.0
- The Rosenberger Berry House, Boscophotos, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Daniel Nelson Barn, Unknown author Unknown author, Public domain
- The Spencer Chapel, Boscophotos, CC BY-SA 3.0
- The McMullin House, Boscophotos, CC BY-SA 3.0
- The Rock Island Passenger Depot, Boscophotos, CC BY-SA 3.0
- The Seeberger-Loring-Kilburn House, Boscophotos, CC BY-SA 3.0
- 515 High Ave E, Boscophotos, CC BY-SA 3.0
- The Shoemaker House, Boscophotos, CC BY-SA 3.0
- The Smith-Johnson House, Boscophotos, CC BY-SA 3.0
- David Fischer (17803361222), Gage Skidmore from Surprise, AZ, United States of America, CC BY-SA 2.0
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