Odebolt, IA

Odebolt had 994 residents in 2020, and its story is tied to the Chicago & Northwestern Railway, which reached the site in 1877. The city was incorporated on May 13, 1878, and Odebolt Creek still gives the town a natural thread through the surrounding Sac County farm country. The creek runs through Ida Grove before joining the Maple River, linking the town’s name to a wider landscape of fields, drainage routes, and small Iowa communities. It remains a familiar part of local walks and summer events.

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Odebolt’s calendar and downtown landmarks keep that history close at hand. Creek Days brings neighbors and former residents back for a summer celebration, while Heritage Square Park gathers the Odebolt Museum, Iowa Rural Schools Museum, Peterson Pioneer Home, and a historic 1915 bank building. The city park and pool, Memorial Walk along Odebolt Creek, library, and mural-filled community center add everyday places to the list. OABCIG Community School District has elementary and middle schools in Odebolt, with high school in Ida Grove.