Primghar, Iowa

Primghar is a city in, and the county seat of, O'Brien County, Iowa, United States.[4] The population was 909 at the 2010 census. Primghar is 23.5 miles south of Iowa State Highway 9, 28 miles east of Sioux Center and 6.75 miles north of Iowa State Highway 10.

Primghar, Iowa
City
Location of Primghar, Iowa
Coordinates: 43°5′16″N 95°37′40″W
Country	United States
State	Iowa
County	O'Brien
Government
• Type	Mayor-council
• Mayor	Kurt Edwards
Area [1]
• Total	1.38 sq mi (3.58 km^2)
• Land	1.38 sq mi (3.58 km^2)
• Water	0.00 sq mi (0.00 km^2)
Elevation	1,526 ft (465 m)
Population  (2010)[2]
• Total	909
• Estimate  (2019)[3]	856
• Density	618.94/sq mi (238.94/km^2)
Time zone	UTC-6 (Central (CST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP code	51245
Area code(s)	712
FIPS code	19-64650
GNIS feature ID	0460449
Website	City of Primghar

History

In a brief history of O'Brien County, Arthur M. Schierholz states: "the courthouse location in (the county of) O'Brien in the extreme southeast corner of the county became a growing issue. To resolve the matter, an election was held on November 11, 1872, to determine the location of the courthouse." A total of 360 votes were cast, with 307 voting to move the courthouse to the exact geographical center of the county. Another historian wrote, "Probably the only case in Iowa, perhaps anywhere, where a bare spot of raw prairie was actually voted to be the county seat." This eventually became the town of Primghar. The present O'Brien County Courthouse was completed in 1917.[5] The name Primghar was received from the first letter of eight people who had a major part in platting the town.[6][7]

Geography

Primghar is located at 43°5′16″N 95°37′40″W (43.087722, -95.627892).[8]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 1.38 square miles (3.57 km²), all land.[9]

Roads and highways

The only major highway that passes through Primghar is U.S. 59, going north-south. B40 road runs east-west through the town.

Topography

Primghar lies at an elevation of 1520 feet. This area of northwest Iowa is gently rolling. Today, fields are marred by few boggy areas and much of the land is terraced to reduce erosion. Until fill was hauled in, the south side of the courthouse square was a "boggy, muddy slough." When the first settlers arrived, there were few trees and almost without exception prairie grass grew to six foot.

In the immediate vicinity of Primghar the topsoils and subsoils are silty clay loam. (Galva, Marcus, Primghar, and Sac soils by name.) Clay loam glacial till is at a depth of 30 to 60 inches in most places. There are no mineral assets of commercial value, save rock and gravel. Back in 1873 this dearth of underground wealth was yet to be decided. There was a $1000 reward posted for anyone finding mineable coal reserves. No one claimed the prize.

There is an abandoned rock quarry, one mile south-southeast of Primghar, which was donated by the Tjossem family to Primghar in 1989 and is now known as Tjossem Park, a fishing area and public picnic/camp ground.

Demographics

Historical population
Census	Pop.		%±
1880	143		—
1890	519		262.9%
1900	814		56.8%
1910	733		−10.0%
1920	921		25.6%
1930	962		4.5%
1940	1,081		12.4%
1950	1,152		6.6%
1960	1,131		−1.8%
1970	995		−12.0%
1980	1,050		5.5%
1990	950		−9.5%
2000	891		−6.2%
2010	909		2.0%
Est. 2019	856	[3]	−5.8%
U.S. Decennial Census[10]

2010 census

As of the census[2] of 2010, there were 909 people, 392 households, and 247 families residing in the city. The population density was 658.7 inhabitants per square mile (254.3/km²). There were 444 housing units at an average density of 321.7 per square mile (124.2/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 96.5% White, 0.3% African American, 0.3% Native American, 0.4% Asian, 0.9% from other races, and 1.5% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.2% of the population.

There were 392 households of which 28.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.0% were married couples living together, 8.9% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.1% had a male householder with no wife present, and 37.0% were non-families. 33.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 18.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.19 and the average family size was 2.77.

The median age in the city was 43.9 years. 23.8% of residents were under the age of 18; 5.2% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 22.4% were from 25 to 44; 25.4% were from 45 to 64; and 23.3% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 47.7% male and 52.3% female.

2000 census

As of the census[11] of 2000, there were 891 people, 391 households, and 233 families residing in the city. The population density was 643.9 people per square mile (249.3/km²). There were 437 housing units at an average density of 315.8 per square mile (122.3/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 98.20% White, 0.11% Native American, 1.12% Asian, 0.11% from other races, and 0.45% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.79% of the population.

There were 391 households out of which 26.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.4% were married couples living together, 5.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 40.4% were non-families. 36.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 24.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.17 and the average family size was 2.86.

21.5% are under the age of 18, 6.5% from 18 to 24, 21.7% from 25 to 44, 21.9% from 45 to 64, and 28.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 45 years. For every 100 females, there were 89.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 82.5 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $31,304, and the median income for a family was $40,982. Males had a median income of $30,134 versus $20,694 for females. The per capita income for the city was $17,791. About 5.2% of families and 9.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 9.8% of those under age 18 and 6.7% of those age 65 or over.

Education

Primghar is served by the South O'Brien Community School District.[12] The district was formed on July 1, 1993 by the merger of three school districts: Paullina, Primghar, and Sutherland.[13] Primghar houses the South O'Brien Elementary School.[14]

Transportation

The transportation for Primghar is by road (U.S. 59, B40 road), or by air (Primghar Airport).

Notable people

• Keli McGregor (1963–2010), former NFL player and president of the Colorado Rockies baseball team.[15]
• Rick and Michael Mast, founders of Mast Brothers chocolate.[16]
• Joseph Welch (1890–1960), the head counsel for the United States Army, most famous for asking Senator Joseph McCarthy, "Have you no decency, sir?" during the height of McCarthyism.[17][18]

References

1. "2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 17, 2020.
2. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2012-05-11.
3. "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". United States Census Bureau. May 24, 2020. Retrieved May 27, 2020.
4. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved 2011-06-07.
5. "O'Brien County Courthouse". Iowa Judicial Branch. Archived from the original on 2012-04-01. Retrieved 2011-03-07.
6. History of O'Brien County Archived 2011-07-14 at the Wayback Machine
7. Past and Present of O'Brien and Osceola Counties, Iowa, Volume 1. B. F. Bowen. 1914. p. 402.
8. "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. Retrieved 2011-04-23.
9. "US Gazetteer files 2010". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on 2012-01-25. Retrieved 2012-05-11.
10. "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
11. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
12. "South O'Brien" (PDF). Iowa Department of Education. Retrieved 2020-03-27.
13. "REORGANIZATION & DISSOLUTION ACTIONS SINCE 1965-66." Iowa Department of Education. Retrieved on July 20, 2018.
14. "South O'Brien Community School District". South O'Brien Community School District. Retrieved January 21, 2012.
15. "Colorado baseball team president found dead". CNN.com. April 20, 2010. Retrieved March 6, 2014.
16. Moskin, Julia (October 21, 2013). "Discussing Chocolate With the Mast Brothers". The New York Times. Retrieved December 26, 2015.
17. Longden, Tom. "Joseph Welch". Des Moines Register. Retrieved March 7, 2014.
18. "Joseph Welch Obituary". Mason City Globe-Gazette. Newspapers.com. October 6, 1960. Retrieved March 6, 2014.

External links

• Primghar Iowa Portal style website, Government, Business, Recreation and more
• Whats happining in Primghar
• City-Data Comprehensive Statistical Data and more about Primghar