Decatur County Courthouse in Leon

Decatur County was named in honor Commodore Stephen Decatur, a naval officer in the war of 1812.

Decatur County’s first courthouse was a log structure built in 1851 in Decatur.

In 1853, the county seat moved to Independence (renamed Leon in 1855). A courthouse was started, but was destroyed in a windstorm prior to completion. In 1854, a two-story brick courthouse was built. A fire destroyed the courthouse in 1874, with only the contents in the treasurer’s safe surviving.

The third courthouse was built in 1875, a brick two-story Italianate structure. Burglars attempted to blast open the county’s safe with dynamite. Although the safe survived the explosion, the entire west side of the building was destroyed, and damaged the foundation.

Today’s courthouse, a three-story Renaissance and Georgian Revival design by Smith, Wetherell and Gage, was completed in 1908. The exterior is brick and stone; iron, steel, tile, marble and granite were used in the construction of the courthouse. The Decatur County courthouse was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1981.

Visit the Decatur County Development Corporation web site for more information.

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Plymouth County Courthouse in Le Mars

Plymouth County was named for Plymouth, Massachusetts, the first settlement of the Pilgrims in 1620.

Plymouth County’s first courthouse was built in 1859 in Melbourne. It was also used as winter quarters for soldiers and a grocery.

The second courthouse was built in 1874 in Le Mars.

The current courthouse, designed by Kinney & Detweiler in Renaissance and Beaux Arts styles, was completed in 1902. Its exterior is Portage-entry red sandstone, featuring a large portico and Corinthian columns. The large clock tower and dome was removed in 1932. The Plymouth County courthouse was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1981.

Visit the Plymouth County web site for more information.

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Marion County Courthouse in Knoxville

Marion County was likely named for the American Revolutionary War General Francis Marion.

Marion County’s first courthouse was a wood frame structure built in Knoxville in 1846. It served not only as a courthouse, but also as a church and school.

The second courthouse was a two-story Greek Revival brick building with a stone foundation, constructed in 1858. It was considered unsafe in 1895.

Marion County’s current courthouse, a three-story Romanesque sandstone structure designed by M. E. Bell, was completed in 1896. The Marion County courthouse was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1981.

Visit the Marion County web site for more information.

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Van Buren County Courthouse in Keosauqua

Van Buren County was named for Martin Van Buren, the eighth president of the United States.

The Van Buren County Courthouse is the oldest in Iowa, with construction beginning in 1840, and has been in continuous use since its completion in 1843. The two story brick Greek Revival style building, submitted by James Hall and John Fairman, was constructed of locally made bricks, with nearby oak and walnut trees used for its frame and details. The second floor courtroom auditorium was designed without columns or pillars. The original tower and circular staircases were removed, but few structural changes have occurred since its construction. The Keosauqua County courthouse was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1977.

Visit the Keosauqua Community web site for more information.

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Greene County Courthouse in Jefferson

Greene County was named for Nathaniel Greene, a general in the American Revolutionary War.

Greene County’s first courthouse in Jefferson was a simple frame structure built in 1856. Prior to that, court business was held in a log cabin belonging to Judge William Phillips about four miles southeast of Jefferson.

The second courthouse was completed in 1870. The brick courthouse had a bell in the cupola that rang to signal court as well as fire alarms. Water, electric lights, and telephone were added during renovations in the 1890’s.

Today’s courthouse, a three-story Beaux Arts building designed by Proudfood, Bird, and Rawson, was completed in 1917. Its exterior walls are crafted with Bedford limestone, and features a central rotunda that allows light to shine through the stained glass ceiling to the mosaic tile seal of Greene County on the rotunda floor. The Greene County courthouse was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1978.

Visit the Greene County web site for more information.

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Johnson County Courthouse in Iowa City

Johnson County was named for Richard Mentor Johnson, the ninth vice president of the United States.

The first courthouse of Johnson County was a two-story log building built in Napoleon, Iowa in the year 1838.

The county seat moved to Iowa City in 1840, and a two-story brick courthouse was completed in 1842. It was destroyed by fire in 1856.

Johnson County’s third courthouse was a brick Gothic Revival structure built in 1857, and was condemned in 1899.

The current courthouse, a Richardsonian Romanesque structure designed by A. William Rush, was built beginning in 1899. Constructed by James Rowson and Son, the rough-cut stone building features turrets and stone carvings above the arched entrance. The Johnson County courthouse was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1975.

Visit the Johnson County web site for more information.

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Warren County Courthouse in Indianola

Warren County was named for patriot Joseph Warren, who died at the Battle of Bunker Hill.

Warren County’s first courthouse was a two-story log cabin built in 1851. It was also used for a church, school, and other public meetings.

The second courthouse, designed by C. A. Dunham, was completed in 1868. The Victorian building was constructed with brick and stone. In 1935, the building deteriorated to the point that walls bulged, and brick panels above the balcony fell to the ground.

Warren County’s third courthouse, designed in PWA Moderne style by Keffer and Jones, was completed in 1939. It was constructed with buff colored brick and Bedford stone. An addition to expand the jail and office space was built in 1988. The Warren County courthouse was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2003.

Visit the Warren County web site for more information.

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Buchanan County Courthouse in Independence

Buchanan County was named for President James Buchanan, who was a key senator in acquiring the Wisconsin Territory, which included all of Iowa.

Buchanan County’s first courthouse was a small frame structure built in Independence, which also served as a school.

The second courthouse was a brick structure built in 1857. In 1864, the county treasurer’s safe was blown open, and $26,000 in public and private funds stolen.

The third courthouse, a fireproof building, was completed in 1881.

The current courthouse, a PWA Moderne building designed by Dougher, Rich, and Woodburn, was built beginning in 1938. County lore tells that the ghost of Officer Harold Pearce, shot by a prisoner in 1956, haunts the building. The Buchanan County courthouse was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2003.

Visit the Buchanan County web site for more information.

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Ida County Courthouse in Ida Grove

Ida County may have been named for Mount Ida in Greece, or for Ida Smith, the first European-American child born in the county. Court was held for several years in the home of Judge Moorehead.

The first courthouse was a two-story square structure in Ida, built in 1871 and destroyed by fire in 1877. A building was constructed in 1879 with private funds, which the county could rent or purchase for the courthouse. The county moved into this building in 1880, but soon began planning a new courthouse.

The current courthouse, a brick Victorian Gothic and Italianate structure designed by architect J. P. Bryant, was built from 1880-83 on Ida Grove’s highest hill. An administration annex was added to the site in 1982. The Ida County courthouse was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1974.

Visit the Ida County Economic Development web site for more information.

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Shelby County Courthouse in Harlan

Shelby County named for Isaac Shelby, who served as a general in the American Revolutionary War, the War of 1812, and the first governor of Kentucky.

Harlan was established as the Shelby County seat in 1859. The first courthouse was a frame building in the center of the square.

The second courthouse was a frame structure built in 1875.

The current courthouse, a three story stone and brick Romanesque structure designed by C. E. Bell, was built beginning in 1892. The tower was removed in 1899. The Shelby County courthouse was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1978.

Visit the Shelby County web site for more information.

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Franklin County Courthouse in Hampton

Franklin County named for Benjamin Franklin, the Founding Father, printer, scientist, and statesman.

The first courthouse was built on the courthouse square in 1857 in Benjamin, later renamed Hampton. It was made mostly of native lumber, resembling a one-room schoolhouse. It was used until 1866, when it was sold and moved to make room for a new building.

A second courthouse was built in 1866 in the center of the square. The two story building with a cupola was constructed of stone and timber. It served the county until 1889.

The present courthouse, a stone and brick structure designed by T. D. Allen with Romanesque architecture was completed in 1891. It features a large clock tower, with a large bell and classical figures at each corner. The Franklin County courthouse was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1976.

Visit the Franklin County web site for more information.

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Guthrie County Courthouse in Guthrie Center

Guthrie County was named for Edwin B. Guthrie, who commanded a company of Iowa volunteers in the Mexican-American War.

Panora was appointed as the county seat in 1851, but a courthouse was not built for several years. Guthrie County’s first courthouse was a two-story wood structure, built in 1859 in Panora.
Battles raged for years between Panora and Guthrie Center for the appointment of the county seat. In 1873, the county seat was finally awarded to Guthrie Center. The county's second courthouse was built in 1877 in Guthrie Center, which burned in 1882. Insurance money was used to rebuild the courthouse.

The cornerstone for the third courthouse was dated 1882, but it took two years to complete the brick and stone Victorian Renaissance structure after the fire.

Guthrie County’s current courthouse, a brick structure designed with modern architecture by Dougher, Frevert, and Ramsey, was completed in 1964.

Visit the Guthrie County web site for more information.

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Grundy County Courthouse in Grundy Center

Grundy County was named for Felix Grundy, a statesman and U.S. Attorney General. Grundy County’s first courthouse was built in 1857. It was a two-story wood structure with eight sides, known as the “Old Cheese Box.”

The current courthouse, a Romanesque style sandstone structure, was designed by architects Kramer & Zoll, with the cornerstone laid in 1891. The stone came from Stone City, Iowa, Cleveland, Ohio, and Keosota, Minnesota; all stone was cut on the construction site. The clock was added to the tower in 1900. The Grundy County courthouse was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1981.

Visit the Grundy County web site for more information.

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Adair County Courthouse in Greenfield

Adair County was named in honor of John Adair, a general in the War of 1812 and governor of Kentucky. Adair County’s first courthouse was a small two story wood structure in Fontanelle.

In 1874, the county seat moved to Greenfield. A two-story courthouse was built in the town square. It was destroyed by fire in 1889, so county business was temporarily housed in the opera house.

The third courthouse, a brick and stone structure designed with Romanesque architecture by S. E. Maxon, is still in use today. The cornerstone laid in 1891 contains several items, including a bible, bottles of wine, corn, and the history of Greenfield. The Adair County courthouse was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1981.

Visit the Tourist Guide to Adair County web site for more information.

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Mills County Courthouse in Glenwood

Mills County was named in honor of Frederick Mills, a young Iowa officer killed during the Mexican-American War. Its first courthouse was a small frame building in Coonville (later renamed Glenwood).

In 1857, a two-story brick courthouse was built, not only providing court services, but also provided temporary barracks for Civil War troops, and housed the county’s first newspaper.

Mills County’s current courthouse is a modern structure designed by B. H. Backlund & Associates and completed in 1959.

Visit the Mills County web site for more information.


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Hancock County Courthouse in Garner

Hancock County was named in honor of John Hancock, signer of the Declaration of Independence.
Two small frame buildings for county business were built in 1865 in Concord.

A second brick courthouse was built in Concord beginning in 1868. Battles over the county seat brewed for many years. The town of Garner annexed the town of Concord, then Garner businessmen purchased the building site and funded the construction of the courthouse to ensure designation as the county seat.

Today’s brick courthouse, designed by F. W. Kinney in Romanesque style, was completed in 1899. The Hancock County courthouse was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1981.

Visit the Hancock County web site for more information.

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Lee County Courthouse in Fort Madison

Lee County was most likely named for William Elliot Lee, who once owned land in southeast Iowa, including the area that became Lee County. The battle over the county seat is lengthy. The Iowa Assembly passed a special act in 1848 that established two court houses and two county seats. The Iowa Attorney General reaffirmed the law as recently as 1975.
Lee County’s first courthouse, a brick structure designed in Greek Revival style by Fr. Samuel Mazzuchelli, was built in 1841-42 in Fort Madison. This building is still used for court functions today. The building was completed on September 3, 1842. The original courthouse at Fort Madison was designed by Father Samuel Mazzuchelli. County offices were moved in 1978 to a newly-constructed county office building. The old courthouse is still used for court-related functions. Even though there have been numerous court battles and editorials over the county seat question, both towns function as the county seat of Lee County. The Lee County courthouse in Fort Madison was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1976.

The present courthouse at Keokuk is the renovated Post Office building built in 1890.

Visit the Lee County web site for more information.

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Webster County Courthouse in Fort Dodge

Webster County was named for Daniel Webster, the statesman, senator, and United States Secretary of State. The first courthouse, a plain two-story structure, was completed in Fort Dodge in 1861. Despite repairs and remodeling, the growing county required a larger courthouse.

The current limestone courthouse, designed by H. C. Koch using Beaux Arts architectural design, was dedicated in 1902. The Webster County courthouse was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1981.

Visit the Webster County web site for more information.

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Winnebago County Courthouse in Forest City

Winnebago County is named for the Native American tribe, whose name means “People of Stinking Waters.”

The first courthouse was a two-room log cabin that was located on the courthouse square, which was replaced in 1861 with a two-story courthouse constructed with locally made brick. A frame addition was completed in 1877.

The current courthouse was designed using Romanesque architecture by Kinney & Orth, and completed in 1897 by contractor F. A. Gross. The building was constructed using Menomonie red pressed brick, and trimmed with stone. The Winnebago County courthouse was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1981.

Visit the Winnebago-Worth Counties Betterment Council web site for more information.

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Jefferson County Courthouse in Fairfield

Jefferson County, named for President Thomas Jefferson, constructed a two-story wood structure with gabled roof for its first courthouse in 1939.

The second courthouse was a stone and brick structure completed in 1851. It was abandoned in 1880, with court business held in a church for several years.

Jefferson County’s third courthouse, designed by H. C. Koch with Romanesque architecture, was built beginning in 1890. It was constructed with red brick and Cleveland grey sandstone, and features a bas-relief of Justice in the midst of Harmony and Strife. The clocktower and ornamentation were modified due to damage, but recent efforts have repaired the roof and replaced the steeple to the clocktower.

The Jefferson County courthouse was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1981.

Visit the Jefferson County web site for more information.

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Emmet County Courthouse in Estherville

Emmet County, named for the Irish patriot Robert Emmet, planned to build its first courthouse in 1859. A construction company was contracted to build both a school and courthouse, but due to funding squabbles, the courthouse was not completed. Consequently, the school served as both school and courthouse until 1872, when the split-log building was moved to a different location to serve as the courthouse until it was destroyed by fire in 1872.

In 1879 the county seat was moved to Swan Lake, but due to litigation, no courthouse was built there. Eventually the county seat was returned to Estherville. Emmet County’s second courthouse was built in 1884.

The third courthouse, designed in Georgian style by architect James A. Dougher, was completed in 1958. The exterior is faced with light colored brick and stone trim.

Visit the Emmet County web site for more information.

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Palo Alto County Courthouse in Emmetsburg

Palo Alto county, named for the Battle of Palo Alto in the Mexican-American War, began construction its first courthouse in 1858 at the centrally located town of Paoli. The courthouse took years to complete, and was used briefly before the county seat moved to the town of Emmetsburg in 1875.

The second courthouse, designed by B. J. Bartlett with Victorian Gothic architecture, was built in 1880. Originally faced with yellow brick, it was later refaced with red brick and a tall tower removed in the 1920s. An addition and extensive remodeling in the 1970s allowed this structure to continue to serve Palo Alto county today.

Visit the Palo Alto County Economic Development web site for more information.


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Clayton County Courthouse in Elkader

Clayton County, created in 1837,was named for Delaware Senator John M. Clayton, who also served as United States Secretary of State.

Clayton County had several changes in the county seat during its early years. The first courthouse was built in Prairie La Porte in 1840, now known as Guttenburg.

The second courthouse was built in 1844 in Jacksonville, later renamed to Garnavillo. This building was later sold to help fund a courthouse to be built in the new county seat of Elkader.

The present courthouse, designed with Italianate architectural style by O.F. Davis, was begun in the summer of 1867. A large addition to the original building was added in 1877. The red brick structure used limestone quarried nearby for the foundation. A clocktower was added to the original cupola in 1896.

The Clayton County courthouse was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1976.

Visit the Clayton County web site for more information.

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