O'Brien County, Iowa
11 public bodies govern here, 3 school districts are based here, and USDA lists 2 farmers markets. Everything below says where it came from.
In four numbers
- People
- 14,126
- Median household income
- $68,356
- ±4,388
- Unemployed
- 1.0%
- 72 of 7,221 in the labour force
- Homes with broadband
- 90.1%
- 5,234 of 5,809 households
U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020-2024; read 2026-09-26. Percentages worked out here from the two counts shown.
Who governs here
County government 1
| Name | People | Office | Website |
|---|---|---|---|
| County of O'Brien | 14,015 (2021) | Po Box 380, Primghar | Website |
Cities, towns and villages 8
| Name | People | Office | Website |
|---|---|---|---|
| City of Archer | 117 (2021) | 207 Harriman Ave, Archer | — |
| City of Calumet | 146 (2021) | Po Box 131, Calumet | — |
| City of Hartley | 1,571 (2021) | 11 S Central Ave, Hartley | Website |
| City of Paullina | 978 (2021) | Po Box 239, Paullina | Website |
| City of Primghar | 883 (2021) | Po Box 39, Primghar | Website |
| City of Sanborn | 1,393 (2021) | Po Box 548, Sanborn | — |
| City of Sheldon | 5,428 (2021) | Po Box 276, Sheldon | — |
| City of Sutherland | 618 (2021) | Po Box 8, Sutherland | — |
Special districts 2
| Name | What it does | Office | Website |
|---|---|---|---|
| O'Brien County E911 Service Board | Other single function districts | Po Box 482, Primghar | — |
| Obrien County Soil Conservation District | Soil and water conservation | 315 S Rerick Ave, Primghar | — |
U.S. Census Bureau, 2022 Census of Governments, Government Units List (published August 2023); the file read 2026-09-26. Offices are placed by county; a special district’s territory can cross county lines. Each body posts its own meetings on its website where the Census records one.
School districts based here
Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn Comm School District
School district3 schools
300 N. 8th Ave. W., Hartley, IA, 51346
Its website — where its board posts meetings. Federal record.
Sheldon Comm School District
School district4 schools
1700 East Fourth Street, Sheldon, IA, 51201
Its website — where its board posts meetings. Federal record.
South O'Brien Comm School District
School district2 schools
216 S Rutledge, Paullina, IA, 51046
Its website — where its board posts meetings. Federal record.
National Center for Education Statistics, Common Core of Data 2024-25; read 2026-09-26.
Farmers markets
Sheldon Farmers Market
416 9th St. Sheldon, IA, 51201
Gathered by USDA from the web; USDA record last changed 2023-03-21. USDA listing
Paullina Farmers' Market
E. Commerce St., City Park, Paullina, IA, 50146
Gathered by USDA from the web; USDA record last changed 2023-03-21. USDA listing
USDA National Farmers Market Directory; read 2026-09-26.