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Our Genealogy Helper

Introduction ...

We have a couple of goals for our Gazetteer:

  • That it be a tool which helps us with planning our trips.
  • We're trying to shape our Gazetteer as a tool to help us understand the community in which our ancestors lived, the community that was part of their daily lives.
  • On our trips, we try to visit those places where our ancestors left their footprints.

By learning about Primghar (and the surrounding area) during the time that our ancestors lived, we hope to have a better understanding of both their community and its relationship to their lifes. We hope that this tool helps to give us an insight into their world.

As we add data and organize our Gazetteer to help with our family research, we will be adding to this our Genealogical Helper for Primghar. While we don't have information that is specific to any given person or family, we intend to expand our understanding about where and how people lived.

Neighboring Counties ...

When searching for family records, we have frequently made the mistake of not checking the neighboring counties.

For example, we have great-grandparents who lived in the southwest corner of their home county. During their lives, most doctors and hospitals were in the next county to the west. Almost all of the nearby churches and cemeteries were in the county to the south.

So when searching for records, we had our best success by looking in neighboring counties instead of the county in which they lived:  their home county contained property and probate records; the county to the west contained birth and death records; the county to the south contained their burial records. If we hadn't included the neighboring counties, we would have missed many valuable sources of information.

If you're in a similar situation, we hope that the following information helps.

Primghar is located in O'Brien County and is the County Seat.

To see how the shape of Iowa's counties may have changed over time, we recommend the Atlas of Historical County Boundaries.

The following counties adjoin and form the boundaries of O'Brien County: Buena Vista, Cherokee, Clay, Dickinson, Lyon, Osceola, Plymouth & Sioux.

Below are the counties that are near Primghar. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Primghar:

  • O'Brien County     (The home county of Primghar)
    • The following are listed by their distance from Primghar, with the one closest to Primghar listed first.
    • Sanborn
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
    • Archer
      (6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
    • Paullina
      (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
      • Paullina is located in O'Brien County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Paullina
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 965 people
    • Hartley
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
      • Hartley is located in O'Brien County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hartley
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,556 people
    • Calumet
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
      • Calumet is located in O'Brien County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Calumet
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 155 people
    • Sutherland
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
    • Moneta
      (11 miles [17.7 km] to the east)
      • Moneta is located in O'Brien County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Moneta
    • Sheldon
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
    • Germantown
      (12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
      • Germantown is located in O'Brien County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Germantown
  • Buena Vista County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Primghar, with the one closest to Primghar listed first.
    • Elkton
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
      • Elkton is located in Buena Vista County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Elkton
    • Linn Grove
      (23 miles [37 km] to the southeast)
    • Sioux Rapids
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the southeast)
    • Rembrandt
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
  • Cherokee County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Primghar, with the one closest to Primghar listed first.
    • Larrabee
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
      • Larrabee is located in Cherokee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Larrabee
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 130 people
    • Cleghorn
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the south)
      • Cleghorn is located in Cherokee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cleghorn
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 214 people
    • Meriden
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the south)
      • Meriden is located in Cherokee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Meriden
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 144 people
    • Marcus
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the southwest)
    • Cherokee
      (23 miles [37 km] to the south)
    • Mary Hill
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the south)
      • Mary Hill is located in Cherokee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mary Hill
    • Aurelia
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the south)
    • Fielding
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the south)
      • Fielding is located in Cherokee County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fielding
  • Clay County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Primghar, with the one closest to Primghar listed first.
    • Everly
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
      • Everly is located in Clay County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Everly
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 541 people
    • Royal
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the east)
    • Peterson
      (18 miles [29 km] to the southeast)
    • Rossie
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the east)
      • Rossie is located in Clay County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rossie
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 67 people
    • Greenville
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
    • Spencer
      (24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
    • Fostoria
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the northeast)
      • Fostoria is located in Clay County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Fostoria
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 219 people
    • Cornell
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the east)
      • Cornell is located in Clay County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cornell
    • Langdon
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the east)
      • Langdon is located in Clay County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Langdon
    • Gillett Grove
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the east)
      • Gillett Grove is located in Clay County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gillett Grove
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 47 people
    • Dickens
      (30 miles [48.3 km] to the east)
      • Dickens is located in Clay County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Dickens
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 168 people
  • Dickinson County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Primghar, with the one closest to Primghar listed first.
    • Milford
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
    • Old Town
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the northeast)
      • Old Town is located in Dickinson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Old Town
    • Lake Park
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
    • Wahpeton
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
      • Wahpeton is located in Dickinson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wahpeton
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 353 people
    • West Okoboji
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the northeast)
      • West Okoboji is located in Dickinson County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for West Okoboji
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 303 people
  • Lyon County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Primghar, with the one closest to Primghar listed first.
    • George
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the northwest)
    • Little Rock
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the northwest)
  • Osceola County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Primghar, with the one closest to Primghar listed first.
    • Melvin
      (13 miles [20.9 km] to the north)
      • Melvin is located in Osceola County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Melvin
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 197 people
    • May City
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
      • May City is located in Osceola County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for May City
    • Ashton
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
    • Cloverdale
      (18 miles [29 km] to the north)
      • Cloverdale is located in Osceola County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Cloverdale
    • Allendorf
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
      • Allendorf is located in Osceola County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Allendorf
    • Sibley
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
    • Ocheyedan
      (23 miles [37 km] to the north)
      • Ocheyedan is located in Osceola County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ocheyedan
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 463 people
    • Harris
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the north)
      • Harris is located in Osceola County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Harris
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 158 people
  • Plymouth County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Primghar, with the one closest to Primghar listed first.
    • Remsen
      (25 miles [40.2 km] to the southwest)
    • Oyens
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the southwest)
      • Oyens is located in Plymouth County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oyens
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 102 people
  • Sioux County
    • The following are listed by their distance from Primghar, with the one closest to Primghar listed first.
    • Granville
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
      • Granville is located in Sioux County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Granville
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 303 people
    • Hospers
      (14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
    • Matlock
      (19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
    • Alton
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
    • Boyden
      (20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
      • Boyden is located in Sioux County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Boyden
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 682 people
    • Middleburg
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
      • Middleburg is located in Sioux County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Middleburg
    • Orange City
      (22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
    • Hull
      (26 miles [41.8 km] to the west)
      • Hull is located in Sioux County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hull
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 2,296 people
      • Jump to TripAdvisor's Tourism page for Hull <1>
    • Sioux Center
      (27 miles [43.5 km] to the west)
    • Westbrook Village
      (28 miles [45.1 km] to the west)
      • Westbrook Village is located in Sioux County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Westbrook Village
    • Maurice
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
      • Maurice is located in Sioux County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Maurice
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 270 people
    • Perkins
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the west)
      • Perkins is located in Sioux County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Perkins
  • Nobles County (MN)
    • Bigelow
      (29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
      • Bigelow is located in Nobles County (MN)
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bigelow
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 226 people

For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Primghar, see our County-by-County Page for Primghar.

Cemeteries Near Primghar ...

Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Primghar.

This is a new section and is likely to have errors. If you find an error, such as a missing cemetery or we have the wrong name, please let us know. If you know of them, we would also appreciate learning about previous or alternate names.

Although we don't have the information ourselves, if you need information about a burial or interment, photos, transcripts, how to contact the cemetery or local authorities, please visit our list of websites on our Genealogy Helper Page for Primghar - one of the links might be able to help.

If not found below, our Cemetery List for Primghar covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.

The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Primghar, with the one closest to Primghar listed first.

  • St. Anthonys Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
  • Pleasant Hill Cemetery
    (Less than 2 miles to the northwest)
  • Center Twp. Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
  • Steuck Cemetery
    (4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
  • Friends Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the south)
  • Doyle Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the east)
  • Randolph Cemetery
    (5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
  • St. Cecilla Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
  • Grant Cemetery
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the east)
  • Roseland Cemetery
    (7 miles [11.3 km] to the northwest)
  • West Prairie View Cemetery
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
  • Prairie View Cemetery
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the southwest)
  • Continue List   (119 more) ...
    • Pleasant View Cemetery
      (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
    • Calvary Cemetery
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
    • Waterman Cemetery
      (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)

Nearby Communities in 1895 ...

We've built the following list with information that came from an Atlas published by Rand McNally in 1895. The Atlas had details such as the population of the community (which appears to have come from the 1890 Census) and whether there was a post office and/or railroad service available. We also indicate if the community no longer exists and is now historic.<2>

The Rand McNally Atlas shows that Primghar had a population of 519 people in 1895 with a post office and no railroad service. In 2020, Primghar had a population of 858 people.

These communities are listed based on their distance from Primghar, with the one closest to Primghar listed first.

  • Gaza
    (5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
    • Gaza is located in O'Brien County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Gaza
  • Sanborn
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
  • Archer
    (6 miles [9.7 km] to the west)
  • Paullina
    (8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
    • Paullina is located in O'Brien County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Paullina
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 965 people
  • Hartley
    (9 miles [14.5 km] to the northeast)
    • Hartley is located in O'Brien County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Hartley
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 1,556 people
  • Calumet
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the south)
    • Calumet is located in O'Brien County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Calumet
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 155 people
  • Sutherland
    (10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
  • Sheldon
    (12 miles [19.3 km] to the northwest)
  • Granville
    (14 miles [22.5 km] to the southwest)
    • Granville is located in Sioux County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Granville
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 303 people
  • Ritter
    (14 miles [22.5 km] to the northwest)
    • Ritter is located in O'Brien County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ritter
  • Hospers
    (14 miles [22.5 km] to the west)
  • Larrabee
    (16 miles [25.7 km] to the south)
    • Larrabee is located in Cherokee County
    • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Larrabee
    • Population from the 2020 Census: 130 people
  • Continue List   (15 more) ...
    • Everly
      (16 miles [25.7 km] to the east)
      • Everly is located in Clay County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Everly
      • Population from the 2020 Census: 541 people
    • Ashton
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
    • May City
      (17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
      • May City is located in Osceola County
      • Jump to our Gazetteer entry for May City

We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Primghar. See our List of 1890's Communities around Primghar.

Newspapers Published in the Vicinity of Primghar ...

An ongoing effort between the Library of Congress and the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) has resulted in the National Digital Newspaper Program (NDNP).

To share their results, the partnership has created the Chronicling America website. The goal of this partnership is to assemble a database about the current and historic newspapers of the United States. This includes a growing collection of scanned images from selected papers. All of it available to the public on their website.

Using information that we've taken from the Chronicling America website, we've identified 120 newspapers that have been published in the area around Primghar.

We have organized these newspapers into two lists:

  • A Local Newspaper List - focusing on the papers published in the immediate area of Primghar. There are actually two parts to this list - papers printed in the immediate area of Primghar and those printed in the larger area surrounding Primghar.
  • An Extended Newspaper List - a longer list, sorted by paper name and containing those papers published within 29 miles [46.7 km]<3> of Primghar.

Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...

When we do our genealogical research, we like to start with the websites from Cyndi's List, FamilySearch and Genealogy Trails. These professional and volunteer websites offer the information directly or else point to where you can find it. Their information is open to everyone.

To help you get started, the following links will take you to the pages that are relevant to Primghar:

Footnotes ...

<1>While we're fans and frequent users of TripAdvisor, you should know that we're also members of the TripAdvisor affiliate program.
<2>We use the term 'Historic' broadly and it generally means that the community no longer exists. However, it can also mean that the community might still exist, but was significantly larger or had a more 'official' existence in the past than it does now. Unfortunately our sources of data have proven to be unreliable. If you can provide us with more specific information about Primghar, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy.
<3>Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'straight-line' distance. A straight line distance ignores things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line from Point A (ie- Primghar) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'.