Tama is a city in Tama County, Iowa, United States. The population was 2,877 at the 2010 census.
Tama is situated two miles south of Toledo, the county seat. The two towns are close enough to have nearly grown together over the years.
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.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 3.41 square miles (8.8 km2), of which 3.26 square miles (8.4 km2) is land and 0.15 square miles (0.39 km2) is water.
As of the census of 2010, there were 2,877 people, 1,092 households, and 708 families living in the city. The population density was 882.5 inhabitants per square mile (340.7/km2). There were 1,234 housing units at an average density of 378.5 per square mile (146.1/km2).