Tipton was platted within Center Township in 1840 and was named for General John Tipton, a personal friend of the founder, Henry W. Higgins. The city was incorporated on January 27, 1857.
Geography
Tipton is located at . According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of, all land.
At the 2000 census there were 3,155 people, 1,334 households, and 868 families living in the city. The population density was 1,732.2 people per square mile. There were 1,404 housing units at an average density of 770.8 per square mile. The racial makup of the city was 98.61% White, 0.35% African American, 0.03% Native American, 0.32% Asian, 0.06% from other races, and 0.63% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.08%. Of the 1,334 households 29.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.6% were married couplesliving together, 8.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.9% were non-families. 31.1% of households were one person and 16.6% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.31 and the average family size was 2.87. 23.6% are under the age of 18, 7.3% from 18 to 24, 26.6% from 25 to 44, 21.6% from 45 to 64, and 20.9% 65 or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females, there were 93.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.6 males. The median household income was $36,778 and the median family income was $45,698. Males had a median income of $34,464 versus $21,596 for females. The per capita income for the city was $17,494. About 2.9% of families and 7.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.4% of those under age 18 and 9.4% of those age 65 or over.
2010 census
At the 2010 census there were 3,221 people, 1,394 households, and 842 families living in the city. The population density was. There were 1,510 housing units at an average density of. The racial makup of the city was 97.9% White, 0.3% African American, 0.2% Native American, 0.3% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 0.2% from other races, and 1.0% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.4%. Of the 1,394 households 29.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.6% were married couples living together, 8.6% had a female householder with no husband present, 3.2% had a male householder with no wife present, and 39.6% were non-families. 35.4% of households were one person and 17.9% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.25 and the average family size was 2.90. The median age was 42.3 years. 24.2% of residents were under the age of 18; 5.9% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 23.6% were from 25 to 44; 25.5% were from 45 to 64; and 20.8% were 65 or older. The gender makeup of the city was 48.3% male and 51.7% female.
Infrastructure
Transportation
Tipton is served by two highways: Iowa 38 and Iowa 130. While Tipton is no longer served by any railroads, it was served by two railroads in the past. The Chicago & Northwestern served Tipton via a spur line from Stanwood to the north. The tracks were removed in the 1970s. Tipton was also served by a branch of the Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad from Iowa City to Bennett and beyond. This line ran east and west through the southern part of Tipton and was abandoned in the 1950s. Evidence of this abandoned right-of-way can still be seen in Tipton in a few places.
Notable people
Bertha Lum, who pioneered the use of Japanese art techniques in the U.S.
