Mahaska County Courthouse in Oskaloosa

Mahaska County was named for Chief Mahaska of the Iowa Native American tribe. Mahaska means “White Cloud.”

Mahaska County’s first courthouse was a two-story frame structure built in Oskaloosa, and completed in 1845. It was used as the courthouse, church, and opera house. It was abandoned by the county around 1855

For several years, the county rented space for courthouse offices.

Today’s Mahaska County Courthouse is a three story brick and stone structure on a stone foundation located east of the town square in Oskaloosa. Designed in Romanesque style by architect H. C. Koch & Co., the courthouse was dedicated in 1886. The tower was lowered in 1934. A bronze statue of Chief Mahaska faces west in the town square. The Mahaska County courthouse was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1981.

Visit the Mahaska County web site for more information.

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