O'Brien County, Iowa
O'Brien County, Iowa | |
|---|---|
The O'Brien County Courthouse in Primghar | |
Location within the U.S. state of Iowa | |
| Coordinates: 43°04′53″N 95°37′34″W / 43.081388888889°N 95.626111111111°W | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Iowa |
| Founded | January 15, 1851 |
| Named after | William Smith O'Brien |
| Seat | Primghar |
| Largest city | Sheldon |
| Area | |
• Total | 573 sq mi (1,480 km2) |
| • Land | 573 sq mi (1,480 km2) |
| • Water | 0.2 sq mi (0.52 km2) 0.03% |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 14,182 |
• Estimate (2024) | 14,260 |
| • Density | 24.8/sq mi (9.56/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−6 (Central) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−5 (CDT) |
| Congressional district | 4th |
| Website | obriencounty |
| |
O'Brien County is a county in the U.S. state of Iowa. As of the 2020 United States census, the population was 14,182.[2] The county seat is Primghar.[3]
History
By the time Iowa attained statehood (December 28, 1848), its Territorial Legislature had created 44 counties. On January 15, 1851, the new State Legislature created another 49 counties, defining them by lines of survey. O'Brien was among the 49 units thus created.[4] It consists of four survey townships, each formed by 36 square miles arranged in a 6x6 layout, for a nominal 576 square miles total area. The county was named for William Smith O'Brien, a leader for Irish independence in 1848.[5]
The new county's first settler arrived in 1856; Hannibal H. Waterman brought his wife and a daughter to the southeast portion (present Waterman Township). His homestead formed the nucleus of the county's first community, and a small building was erected there to function as a courthouse.
By 1872, the county comprised several small communities, and residents of those groups felt the county's business should be conducted in a more central location. An election was held, the outcome of which was to create a new county seat at its midpoint. A 40-acre (16-hectare) tract at the center of the county was surveyed and platted; its name (Primghar) was created from the initials of eight persons involved with the platting. The previous courthouse building was transported to this new location.[6]
In 1874, a 35-foot square building was erected on the present location at a cost of $2,000, to replace the first structure. It was replaced in 1887 by a larger structure. The County Board of Supervisors authorized its construction, at a cost not to exceed $5,000 (the maximum amount the county was authorized to commit). To keep within this limit, members of the new community agreed to haul the building materials without charge from railroad stops at Sanborn and Paullina. The present courthouse was completed in 1917,[7] and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 573 square miles (1,480 km2), of which 573 square miles (1,480 km2) is land and 0.2 square miles (0.52 km2) (0.03%) is water.[8]
Major highways
Adjacent counties
- Osceola County - north
- Clay County - east
- Cherokee County - south
- Sioux County - west
Demographics
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1860 | 383 | — | |
| 1870 | 715 | 86.7% | |
| 1880 | 4,155 | 481.1% | |
| 1890 | 13,060 | 214.3% | |
| 1900 | 16,985 | 30.1% | |
| 1910 | 17,262 | 1.6% | |
| 1920 | 19,051 | 10.4% | |
| 1930 | 18,409 | −3.4% | |
| 1940 | 19,293 | 4.8% | |
| 1950 | 18,970 | −1.7% | |
| 1960 | 18,840 | −0.7% | |
| 1970 | 17,522 | −7.0% | |
| 1980 | 16,972 | −3.1% | |
| 1990 | 15,444 | −9.0% | |
| 2000 | 15,102 | −2.2% | |
| 2010 | 14,398 | −4.7% | |
| 2020 | 14,182 | −1.5% | |
| 2024 (est.) | 14,260 | [9] | 0.5% |
| U.S. Decennial Census[10] 1790–1960[11] 1900–1990[12] 1990–2000[13] 2010–2020[14] | |||
2020 census
As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 14,182, yielding a population density of 24.8/sq mi (9.6/km2) and a median age of 42.0 years. 23.3% of residents were under the age of 18 and 22.1% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 101.5 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 99.0 males age 18 and over; 95.42% of residents reported being of one race.[15]
36.2% of residents lived in urban areas, while 63.8% lived in rural areas.[16]
There were 5,861 households in the county, of which 27.2% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 52.7% were married-couple households, 19.3% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 21.8% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 31.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.[15]
There were 6,524 housing units, of which 10.2% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 73.9% were owner-occupied and 26.1% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.8% and the rental vacancy rate was 12.2%.[15]
The racial makeup of the county was 90.4% White, 1.1% Black or African American, 0.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6% Asian, 0.1% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 2.7% from some other race, and 4.6% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 6.9% of the population.[17]
Racial and ethnic composition
| Race | Number | Percent |
|---|---|---|
| White (NH) | 12,609 | 89% |
| Black or African American (NH) | 159 | 1.12% |
| Native American (NH) | 39 | 0.3% |
| Asian (NH) | 79 | 0.6% |
| Pacific Islander (NH) | 11 | 0.07% |
| Other/Mixed (NH) | 300 | 2.12% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 985 | 7% |
2010 census
As of the 2010 census, there were 14,398 people, 6,069 households, and 3,927 families in the county. The population density was 25.1/sq mi (9.7/km2). There were 6,649 housing units at an average density of 11 per square mile (4.2/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 96.0% White, 0.5% Black or African American, 0.1% American Indian, 0.6% Asian, 2.0% from other races, and 0.8% from two or more races. The county has a 3.8% Hispanic or Latino background.
There were 6,069 households, out of which 26.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.1% were married couples living together, 6.1% had a female householder with no husband present, 3.5% had a male householder with no wife present, and 35.3% were non-families. 31.5% of all households were made up of individuals living alone, and 33.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.31 and the average family size was 2.89.
The county population contained 25.7% under the age of 20, 4.6% from 20 to 24, 21.3% from 25 to 44, 28.1% from 45 to 64, and 20.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43.6 years. For every 100 females there were 95.80 males. For every 100 females, there were 99.1 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $44,018, and the median income for a family was $58,127. The per capita income for the county was $24,771. About 6.3% of families and 11.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.7% of those under age 18 and 8.3% of those age 65 or over.
Communities
Cities
Unincorporated communities
Townships
Population ranking
The population ranking of the following table is based on the 2020 census of O'Brien County.[2]
† county seat
| Rank | City/Town/etc. | Municipal type | Population (2020 Census) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sheldon (partially in Sioux County) | City | 5,251 (5,512 total) |
| 2 | Hartley | City | 1,605 |
| 3 | Sanborn | City | 1,392 |
| 4 | Paullina | City | 982 |
| 5 | † Primghar | City | 896 |
| 6 | Sutherland | City | 629 |
| 7 | Calumet | City | 146 |
| 8 | Archer | City | 117 |
Politics
O'Brien County is one of the most consistently Republican counties in Iowa. It has backed the Republican nominee in all but five elections in its history; its inaugural election in 1860, a tie in 1864, backing former Republican turned Progressive Theodore Roosevelt in 1912, and supporting Franklin D. Roosevelt during his two nationwide landslides in 1932 and 1936. Since 1952, the Republican candidate has carried O'Brien County by a margin of at least 20% in every election except for 1964, when Democrat Lyndon B. Johnson only lost the county by 41 votes amidst a nationwide Democratic landslide. In the 21st century, all Republican candidates have obtained over 65% of the county's vote, and beginning in 2012, at least 70% of the vote.
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
| 1896 | 2,421 | 60.10% | 1,562 | 38.78% | 45 | 1.12% |
| 1900 | 2,386 | 61.16% | 1,461 | 37.45% | 54 | 1.38% |
| 1904 | 2,279 | 68.94% | 885 | 26.77% | 142 | 4.30% |
| 1908 | 1,912 | 57.69% | 1,326 | 40.01% | 76 | 2.29% |
| 1912 | 620 | 16.02% | 1,506 | 38.91% | 1,744 | 45.06% |
| 1916 | 2,021 | 52.53% | 1,787 | 46.45% | 39 | 1.01% |
| 1920 | 5,137 | 76.51% | 1,468 | 21.86% | 109 | 1.62% |
| 1924 | 4,172 | 58.47% | 756 | 10.60% | 2,207 | 30.93% |
| 1928 | 4,845 | 66.39% | 2,397 | 32.84% | 56 | 0.77% |
| 1932 | 3,213 | 40.94% | 4,503 | 57.38% | 132 | 1.68% |
| 1936 | 3,350 | 38.90% | 5,139 | 59.67% | 123 | 1.43% |
| 1940 | 4,760 | 53.30% | 4,133 | 46.28% | 38 | 0.43% |
| 1944 | 4,033 | 56.01% | 3,138 | 43.58% | 30 | 0.42% |
| 1948 | 3,697 | 50.46% | 3,421 | 46.70% | 208 | 2.84% |
| 1952 | 7,130 | 76.18% | 2,192 | 23.42% | 38 | 0.41% |
| 1956 | 6,138 | 67.32% | 2,970 | 32.57% | 10 | 0.11% |
| 1960 | 6,509 | 68.66% | 2,967 | 31.30% | 4 | 0.04% |
| 1964 | 4,336 | 50.20% | 4,295 | 49.73% | 6 | 0.07% |
| 1968 | 5,594 | 69.34% | 2,146 | 26.60% | 328 | 4.07% |
| 1972 | 5,159 | 68.87% | 2,224 | 29.69% | 108 | 1.44% |
| 1976 | 4,643 | 61.86% | 2,732 | 36.40% | 131 | 1.75% |
| 1980 | 4,937 | 63.61% | 2,210 | 28.48% | 614 | 7.91% |
| 1984 | 5,008 | 66.16% | 2,479 | 32.75% | 82 | 1.08% |
| 1988 | 4,241 | 59.97% | 2,768 | 39.14% | 63 | 0.89% |
| 1992 | 3,869 | 51.06% | 2,122 | 28.00% | 1,587 | 20.94% |
| 1996 | 3,877 | 57.56% | 2,236 | 33.20% | 622 | 9.24% |
| 2000 | 4,674 | 66.35% | 2,170 | 30.81% | 200 | 2.84% |
| 2004 | 5,328 | 68.92% | 2,330 | 30.14% | 73 | 0.94% |
| 2008 | 4,894 | 66.74% | 2,338 | 31.88% | 101 | 1.38% |
| 2012 | 5,266 | 71.73% | 1,969 | 26.82% | 106 | 1.44% |
| 2016 | 5,752 | 77.67% | 1,315 | 17.76% | 339 | 4.58% |
| 2020 | 5,861 | 77.62% | 1,569 | 20.78% | 121 | 1.60% |
| 2024 | 5,998 | 79.71% | 1,428 | 18.98% | 99 | 1.32% |
Education
School districts include:[20]
See also
- National Register of Historic Places listings in O'Brien County, Iowa
- Indian Village Site in the Witrock Area
References
- ^ "Iowa County Names and Numbers". Iowa Department of Administrative Services. Retrieved February 14, 2026.
- ^ a b "2020 Census State Redistricting Data". census.gov. United states Census Bureau. Retrieved August 12, 2021.
- ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
- ^ Columbia-Lippincott Gazetteer, (New York:Columbia University Press, 1952), p. 1363
- ^ Chicago and North Western Railway Company (1908). A History of the Origin of the Place Names Connected with the Chicago & North Western and Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis & Omaha Railways. p. 162.
- ^ About O'Brien County (O'Brien County website; accessed 1 June 2020)
- ^ "O'Brien County Courthouse". Iowa Judicial Branch. Archived from the original on April 1, 2012. Retrieved March 7, 2011.
- ^ "US Gazetteer files". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
- ^ "County Population Totals and Components of Change: 2020-2024". Retrieved July 24, 2025.
- ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 7, 2014.
- ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. 2007. Archived from the original on December 12, 2009. Retrieved January 7, 2014.
- ^ Forstall, Richard L. (April 20, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 19, 1999. Retrieved January 7, 2014.
- ^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 27, 2010. Retrieved January 7, 2014.
- ^ "U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: O'Brien County, Iowa". www.census.gov. Retrieved February 14, 2026.
- ^ a b c "2020 Decennial Census Demographic Profile (DP1)". United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved December 25, 2025.
- ^ "2020 Decennial Census Demographic and Housing Characteristics (DHC)". United States Census Bureau. 2023. Retrieved December 25, 2025.
- ^ "2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171)". United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved December 25, 2025.
- ^ "P2 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – O'Brien County, Iowa".
- ^ Leip, David. "Atlas of US Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved April 27, 2018.
- ^ Geography Division (December 18, 2020). 2020 Census - School District Reference Map: O'Brien County, IA (PDF) (Map). United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 29, 2025. - Text list
External links
- O'Brien County Portal style website, Government, Business, Tourism and more
- IaGenWeb O'Brien county history, Biographies, and more
- City-Data Comprehensive Statistical Data and more about O'Brien County