WAPELLO COUNTY

What WAPELLO COUNTY does

Wapello County, Iowa is a political subdivision of the State of Iowa and a county government headquartered at 101 W. 4th St in Ottumwa. Created on February 17, 1843, it serves a fixed population of approximately 36,000 residents across 432 square miles, making it Iowa's 19th most populous county out of 99. The county is governed by an elected three-member Board of Supervisors (Darren Batterson, Chair; Carrie Teninty, Vice Chair; Bryan Ziegler) and operates over 18 distinct service departments including Sheriff and Jail (148 beds, 100+ average daily population, 12 patrol deputies covering 800 miles of unincorporated roadways), Courts (Judicial District 8), Public Health, Conservation and Parks (2,000+ acres across 13 areas anchored by Pioneer Ridge Nature Center), Secondary Roads (565 miles granular, 138 miles paved, 38 miles dirt), Assessor, Recorder, Treasurer, Auditor, Attorney, Veterans Affairs, GIS, Planning and Zoning, Environmental Health, Emergency Management, Judicial Mental Health Advocate, and Weed Commissioner.

The county generates revenue primarily through property taxes (the primary recurring stream), supplemented by vehicle registration and tag renewal fees, recording fees for real estate and vital records, court fines and surcharges (payable 24/7 online), passport acceptance fees, DNR transactions (hunting/fishing licenses, boat/ATV/snowmobile registrations), bid contracts for construction projects, and conservation cabin/camping rentals via the MyCountyParks platform. Budgeted staffing includes 48 employees in the Sheriff's Office (24/7 operations) plus 6 Conservation Board staff, alongside elected officials and department heads across all functions. Technology infrastructure centers on a county-wide GIS digital mapping database (parcels, hydrology, roads, bridges, recreation areas) used by Assessor, Auditor, Engineer, and Environmental Services; online portals for eJuror, vaccine appointment scheduling, and court fine payment; and integrations with Iowa Judicial Branch, Iowa DOT, Iowa DNR, Iowa DCI, and Smart911 emergency notification.

Wapello County is not an investable entity: it is a public, tax-funded government institution accountable to residents through democratic elections, with no parent company, no subsidiaries, no funding rounds, and no equity structure. Its strategic moves are constrained to operational modernization, regulatory implementation, and intra-jurisdictional service consolidation — exemplified by the joint Wapello County/City of Ottumwa Law Enforcement Center opened in November 2000. The county's "competitive moat" derives solely from its statutory authority as a government entity; revenue is structurally capped by its fixed geographic population and property tax base.

Name

WAPELLO COUNTY

Legal name

Wapello County, Iowa

Website

https://wapellocounty.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1843

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Wapello County, Iowa is a county government headquartered in Ottumwa, serving approximately 36,000 residents through 18+ departments including law enforcement, courts, public health, conservation, roads, and tax administration, funded primarily by property taxes and statutory fees.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

County Government Services

NAICS

Justice, Public Order, and Safety Activities (922), Administration of Veterans' Affairs (923140), Administration of Environmental Quality Programs (9241), Administration of Economic Programs (926)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Local Public Health & Human Services Administration (BPAIACAK)

Keywords

• County government services
• Property tax administration
• Law enforcement services
• Public health services
• Vital records management

Headquarters

HQ city

Ottumwa

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices12 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Infrastructure, Operations, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Property Taxes: Primary revenue source for county operations. Property tax statements mailed in August for September and March payments.
2. Vehicle Registration/Renewal: Motor vehicle registration and tag renewal services.
3. Recording Fees: Fees for recording real estate documents, vital records, military discharges, and other official documents.
4. Passport Services: Fees for passport acceptance and photo services.
5. Court Fines and Fees: Fines, surcharges, and fees collected from court proceedings. Juror compensation paid at $30/day for first 7 days, $50/day for 8+ days.
6. DNR Transactions: Boat, snowmobile, ATV, ORV, UTV, and dirt bike registrations; hunting and fishing licenses; deer and turkey tags.
7. Bid Notices/Contracts: Construction and service contracts for county projects.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Wapello County, Iowa operates as a county government providing essential public services to approximately 36,000 residents through multiple departments. Core offerings include property tax collection, vital records (birth, death, marriage), law enforcement and jail operations, court administration, public health, elections, conservation, planning and zoning, secondary roads maintenance, veterans affairs, and environmental health services.

Product overview

Wapello County, Iowa operates as a county government providing a comprehensive suite of public services through its various departments. The county government offers over 18 distinct service divisions including core administrative functions (Board of Supervisors, Auditor, Treasurer), public safety (Sheriff and Jail, Emergency Management, Courts), land and property services (Assessor, Recorder, Planning and Zoning, Environmental Health), infrastructure (Secondary Roads), health and social services (Public Health, Veterans Affairs, Judicial Mental Health Advocate), and recreational/educational resources (Conservation and Parks, GIS Department). These services operate from the county courthouse in Ottumwa and various satellite facilities, serving approximately 36,000 residents across the county's 432 square miles.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Assessor Services Property assessment services including valuation of residential, commercial, industrial, and agricultural real property; administers tax credits and exemptions; handles assessment appeals through the Board of Review.
• County Attorney Services Prosecution of criminal violations, legal advice to county officials, representation in court proceedings, mental health commitment presentations, and juvenile cases.
• Auditor Services Financial record-keeping, election administration, payroll processing, and real estate transaction support for Wapello County.
• Board of Supervisors Three-member legislative body governing Wapello County, establishing programs, services, and local ordinances; meets every other Tuesday at 9:30 a.m.
• Conservation and Parks County conservation board managing 13 areas totaling over 2,000 acres including Pioneer Ridge Nature Center, campgrounds, cabins, and recreational facilities. Provides outdoor experiences including hiking, bird watching, horseback riding, camping, hunting, and fishing.
• Emergency Management Disaster planning, emergency response coordination, first responder training, emergency operations center management, and public emergency preparedness education.
• Environmental Health Services Private water supply well permitting and inspection, septic system evaluation and permitting, time-of-transfer inspections, and public health nuisance investigations.
• GIS Department Services Geographic Information System services providing digital mapping, parcel data, municipal boundaries, hydrology, roads, bridges, and recreation area mapping for county departments and public users.
• Judicial Mental Health Advocate Services Patient advocacy for persons under court-ordered mental health commitments, serving Wapello, Appanoose, Davis, and Mahaska counties.
• Planning and Zoning Services Land use planning, building permit issuance, construction inspections, and zoning recommendations for unincorporated areas of Wapello County.
• Public Health Services County public health agency providing immunizations, communicable disease follow-up, community health assessments, TB testing, adult vaccines, and emergency preparedness.
• Recorder Services Official historian for real estate transactions since the 1840s, vital records (birth, death, marriage), military discharges, passport applications, and DNR transactions including hunting/fishing licenses and vehicle registrations.
• Secondary Roads Services Road maintenance for 565 miles of granular roads and 138 miles of paved surfaces; snow and ice removal; bridge and culvert maintenance; driveway permits and roadside management.
• Sheriff and Jail Services Law enforcement protection serving 36,000 residents across nearly 800 miles of unincorporated roadways; 148-bed jail facility with average daily population of 100+; court security; civil process service; 911 communications center dispatching for multiple EMS, fire, and ambulance services.
• Treasurer Services Property tax collection and motor vehicle registration services including tax payments, vehicle tag renewals, and tax sale certificate redemption.
• Veterans Affairs Services Assistance with VA benefit applications for veterans, service members, and their families including health care, dependent benefits, and emergency assistance.
• Weed Commissioner Services Noxious weed control enforcement and roadside weed management program for property owners in Wapello County.
• Courts and Juror Services Part of Judicial District 8; provides juror summons processing, court fine payment, and courtroom facilities at the Wapello County Courthouse.
• Elections Services Voter registration, absentee ballot processing, Election Day voting, and polling place management for Wapello County residents.
• Passport Services Passport acceptance and photo services through the Recorder's Office, available by appointment during specified hours.

Quantifiable outcome

• 36,000 residents served
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration10 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Iowa Judicial BranchcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWapello County is part of Judicial District 8 in the Iowa Courts system. The county works with the state judicial branch for court administration, juror services, and case management. Chief Judge Mary Ann Brown oversees the district.
• City of OttumwacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint Wapello County/City of Ottumwa Law Enforcement Center houses both the Sheriff's Office and City police. The 911 Communications Center dispatches for both county and city emergency services.
• Iowa Department of Public Safety - DCIcoreTechnology or IntegrationComplete criminal history checks are processed through the Iowa Department of Criminal Investigation (DCI). Forms available through DPS DCI website for background check requests.
• Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorThe Recorder's Office processes DNR transactions including boat, snowmobile, ATV, ORV, UTV, and dirt bike titles/registrations. Also processes hunting and fishing licenses, deer and turkey tags.
• American Red CrossminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEmergency Management partners with the Red Cross to maintain a list of emergency shelters for disaster situations.
• Ottumwa Regional Health Center (ORMICS)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe 911 Communications Center also dispatches for Ottumwa Regional Health Center's Ambulance Service (ORMICS).
• Iowa Department of Veterans AffairscoreTechnology or IntegrationVeterans Affairs connects veterans with state and federal VA benefits through Iowa Department of Veterans Affairs and U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs resources.
• 10-15 Transit ServiceminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor10-15 Transit provides veteran certified rides to medical appointments, coordinated through Veterans Affairs.
• Iowa Attorney GeneralcoreTechnology or IntegrationCrime Victim Compensation Program administered through Iowa Attorney General's office for crime victims seeking compensation.
• South Central Behavioral Health RegioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWapello County participates in the South Central Region MH Governance Board. The Judicial Mental Health Advocate serves this multi-county region covering Appanoose, Davis, Mahaska, and Wapello counties.
• Iowa County Treasurers AssociationminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorProperty tax payments and vehicle tag renewals processed through the Iowa Treasurers website system.
• Iowa State Association of County AssessorsminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorReal estate records searches available through the Iowa Assessors website portal.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Scott County, Iowa: Larger SE Iowa county (~175,000 residents) anchored by Davenport/Bettendorf. Provides a broader-incumbent comparison for service-scaling and digital-government maturity in the same region.
• Story County, Iowa: Central Iowa county (~100,000 residents) anchored by Ames and Iowa State University. Offers broader-incumbent comparison for county-government digital service delivery and conservation programming.
• Linn County, Iowa: Second-largest Iowa county (~225,000 residents) anchored by Cedar Rapids. Broader-incumbent peer for advanced e-government service delivery, regional 911/emergency management, and conservation programming.

Direct peers

• Clinton County, Iowa: East-central Iowa county (~47,000 residents) operating a similar full-service county government structure with comparable departments and rural-urban service mix. Direct peer for mid-sized Iowa county comparison.
• Cerro Gordo County, Iowa: North-central Iowa county (~43,000 residents) anchored by Mason City, offering directly comparable county government operations across all major departments including Conservation, Public Health, and Secondary Roads.
• Henry County, Iowa: Adjacent SE Iowa county (~20,000 residents) with similar rural service mix including Sheriff, Conservation, Public Health, and Secondary Roads operations. Direct peer for comparable scale and service delivery.
• Lee County, Iowa: Southeast Iowa county government of comparable population (~33,000) operating similar departments (Sheriff, Conservation, Public Health, Secondary Roads, Recorder) serving Keokuk and Fort Madison. Direct comparable for service-mix and scale.
• Marion County, Iowa: South-central Iowa county (~33,000 residents) with Knoxville as county seat, operating comparable departments including County Sheriff, Conservation Board, Public Health, and Secondary Roads. Direct peer for service-mix comparison.
• Jefferson County, Iowa: Adjacent SE Iowa county (~18,000 residents) with comparable rural governance structure, conservation board, and county courthouse services. Direct peer for small-county operations comparison.
• Mahaska County, Iowa: Adjacent SE Iowa county (~22,000 residents) sharing the Judicial District 8 courts system and South Central Behavioral Health Region with Wapello County. Direct peer for regional service delivery models.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCRQcX_KYKF9iAVKnnN9cBGA
• Facebookfacebook.com/wapellocountyattorneysoffice

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles23 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about WAPELLO COUNTY