O'Brien County Map, Iowa

Written and Fact-checked by Whereig Editors | Last Updated On: June 10, 2026

Map of O'Brien County - O'Brien County is a county located in the U.S. state of Iowa. O'Brien County Map showing cities, highways, important places and water bodies. Get Where is O'Brien County located in the map, major cities in O'Brien county, population, areas, and places of interest.

About O'Brien County Map, Iowa: The map showing the county boundary, county seat, major cities, highways, water bodies and neighbouring counties.

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Map of O'Brien County, Iowa

O'Brien County is a county located in the U.S. state of Iowa. It's county seat is Primghar. As per 2020 census, the population of O'Brien County is 14015 people and population density is square miles. According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 573 sq mi (1,484 km2). O'Brien County was established on -17881.

O'Brien County Facts

Continent	North America
Country	United States
State	Iowa
County Seat	Primghar
Largest City/Town	Sheldon
Established	January 15, 1851
Total Area	573 sq mi (1,484 sq km)
Land Area	573 sq mi (1,484 sq km)
Water Area	0.2 sq mi (0.5 sq km)
Population	14,182 (Census 2020)
Population Density	24.7 people per sq mi
Time Zone	Central Time Zone (CT)
Major Highways	U.S. Highway 18, U.S. Highway 59, Iowa Highway 10, Iowa Highway 60
Major Rivers	Little Sioux River, Floyd River tributaries
Neighboring Counties	Osceola County, Clay County, Cherokee County, Sioux County
Famous For	Primghar Courthouse, Sheldon, agriculture, Prairie Heritage Center, small-town Iowa communities
Top Attractions	O'Brien County Courthouse, Prairie Heritage Center, Sheldon Prairie Museum, Mill Creek Park
Official Website	Official Website

About O'Brien County, Iowa

O'Brien County is located in northwestern Iowa and was established in 1851. The county seat is Primghar, while Sheldon is the largest city. Agriculture remains the backbone of the county's economy, with corn, soybeans, and livestock production playing major roles. O'Brien County is known for its historic courthouse, vibrant rural communities, and scenic prairie landscapes.

Cities and Towns in O'Brien County, Iowa

City/Town	Population (Census 2020)	Latitude & Longitude
Sheldon	5,512	43.1847°N, 95.8561°W
Primghar (county seat)	896	43.0858°N, 95.6272°W
Paullina	1,037	42.9797°N, 95.6878°W
Hartley	1,672	43.1794°N, 95.4767°W
Sanborn	1,392	43.1819°N, 95.6558°W
Sutherland	592	42.9744°N, 95.5014°W
Archer	111	43.1133°N, 95.7428°W
Calumet	150	42.9503°N, 95.5492°W

Best Golf Courses in O'Brien County, Iowa

Golf Course	Location	Latitude & Longitude
Sheldon Golf & Country Club	Sheldon	43.1884°N, 95.8706°W
Sanborn Golf & Country Club	Sanborn	43.1845°N, 95.6634°W
Paullina Golf Club	Paullina	42.9806°N, 95.6978°W
Hartley Golf Club	Hartley	43.1806°N, 95.4873°W

What are Major Roads and Highways in O'Brien County

Major highways connect the county to nearby regions and cities.

U.S. Highway 18 - major east-west route connecting Sheldon and surrounding communities
U.S. Highway 59 - north-south corridor serving Primghar and connecting to Minnesota
Iowa Highway 10 - important regional route linking Paullina and Sutherland
Iowa Highway 60 - four-lane route providing access to Sioux Center and Worthington, Minnesota

Neighboring Counties of O'Brien County

Osceola County (north)
Clay County (east)
Cherokee County (south)
Sioux County (west)

What are Top Attractions in O'Brien County, Iowa

The county offers a mix of natural and cultural attractions.

Main Sight Name	City	Famous For
O'Brien County Courthouse	Primghar	Historic courthouse with unique architecture
Prairie Heritage Center	Primghar	Native prairie restoration and environmental education
Sheldon Prairie Museum	Sheldon	Local history and pioneer exhibits
Mill Creek Park	Paullina	Camping, fishing, and outdoor recreation
Sheldon Crossing Trail	Sheldon	Walking and cycling trail
Hartley City Park	Hartley	Community recreation and events
Sanborn Historical Museum	Sanborn	Area history and cultural exhibits
Sutherland Railroad Museum	Sutherland	Railroad heritage displays
Archer Community Park	Archer	Small-town recreation area
Calumet Historical Area	Calumet	Historic community landmarks
Little Sioux River Corridor	Countywide	Wildlife viewing and scenic landscapes
O'Brien County Fairgrounds	Primghar	Agricultural fairs and annual events

Distance from O'Brien County to Nearby Cities

The following distances are measured by road (driving).

Primghar to Sheldon (O'Brien County), Iowa - 11 mi (18 km)
Primghar to Paullina (O'Brien County), Iowa - 8 mi (13 km)
Primghar to Sanborn (O'Brien County), Iowa - 9 mi (14 km)
Primghar to Hartley (O'Brien County), Iowa - 13 mi (21 km)
Primghar to Sutherland (O'Brien County), Iowa - 10 mi (16 km)
Primghar to Sibley (Osceola County), Iowa - 20 mi (32 km)
Primghar to Spencer (Clay County), Iowa - 30 mi (48 km)
Primghar to Cherokee (Cherokee County), Iowa - 27 mi (43 km)
Primghar to Orange City (Sioux County), Iowa - 30 mi (48 km)
Primghar to Sioux Center (Sioux County), Iowa - 27 mi (43 km)
Primghar to Le Mars (Plymouth County), Iowa - 42 mi (68 km)
Primghar to Sioux City (Woodbury County), Iowa - 71 mi (114 km)
Primghar to Storm Lake (Buena Vista County), Iowa - 49 mi (79 km)
Primghar to Des Moines (Polk County), Iowa - 223 mi (359 km)
Primghar to Minneapolis, Minnesota - 219 mi (352 km)

Nearest Airports

Nearest airport of O'Brien is Northwest Iowa Municipal Airport.

References

Explore Map of Iowa Counties

US Counties Map by State

Map of O'Brien County, Iowa