O'Brien County, Iowa

Founding: 1860 (declared in 1851)
Parent county: Unorganized territory

Namesake: William O'Brien, Irish nationalist and politician
Seat: O'Brien (1861–1872); Primghar (1872–)

Land area: 573 square miles

Population (2020): 14,182

Population (historic): 383 (1860); 4,155 (1880); 16,985 (1900); 18,409 (1930)

Periods of population growth: 1860–1920; 1930s

Subdivisions: Eight cities; 16 townships

Pre-1940 residences (estimated): 2,095 (31.4%)
Pre-1940 housing survival rate: 50.4%

Farm housing in disrepair (1950): 0.9%

Nonfarm housing in disrepair (1950): 2.2%

Average farmhouse value (1930): $2,584
Average outbuilding value (1930): $3,907
Average farmhouse size (1940): 6.9 rooms
Number of farms (1920): 1,903
Average farm size (1920): 169.3 acres
Sources of settlement: Germany, Illinois, Wisconsin, New York, and Norway
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Primghar

Namesake: A portmanteau of the city's platters' initials

Founding: 1872 (platting); 1873 (post office); 1888 (incorporation)

Population (2020): 896

Population (historic): 143 (1880); 814 (1900); 962 (1930)

Periods of population growth: 1872–1900; 1910–1950; 1970s; 2000s
Pre-1940 residences (estimated): 147 (30.9%)
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