Agency, IA

Agency is a quiet, close-knit community of around 600 people in southeastern Iowa's Wapello County. Sitting just a few minutes east of Ottumwa along Highway 34, it offers residents the peaceful feel of small-town living alongside an easy commute to regional jobs, healthcare, and shopping. The town gets its unique name from the federal Indian agency established here in the late 1830s near the Des Moines River. After the agency closed, settlers founded the town on the same grounds in 1843, building a community that has stayed proud of its roots ever since.

ATTRMichael Lemberger/ FortepanIowa / CC BY-SA 4.0

Local history remains an everyday part of the area, centered around Chief Wapello Memorial Park just southeast of town. The park preserves the original agency grounds and the shared burial site of Meskwaki leader Chief Wapello and agency administrator Joseph Street, who developed a deep mutual respect during their lifetimes. Today, the park provides open green space for afternoon walks and quiet picnics beneath mature trees. For newcomers looking to settle down, Agency delivers low-key rural charm, affordable homes, and friendly neighbors, all with larger city amenities right down the road.