Primghar was named using the first letters of the first names of influential county officials and the surveyors of the town. In 1874 a courthouse was built on the present courthouse square. The two-story courthouse was built at a cost of $2,000 and completed on April 4. This building was later condemned and sold for $470.
In 1879 the citizens of Sheldon attempted to relocate the county seat to their town. In 1882, Sanborn succeeded in removing the records from Primghar in a “raid,” but they were unsuccessful in obtaining the county seat permanently.
Following the unsuccessful attempt by Sheldon, a $6,000 courthouse was constructed by the Green Brothers in 1887. In 1902 this building was added onto, at a cost of $1,400.
In 1911 the city of Sheldon was again unsuccessful in obtaining the county seat. They lost in a special election by a vote of 3,161 to 1,447.
In 1914 the voters of O’Brien County approved $160,000 towards the construction of a new courthouse. This building was occupied in April 1917. The three-story building is of Neo-Classical style and constructed of Bedford limestone.