Worth County Courthouse in Northwood

Worth County was named for William Jenkins Worth, a general in the Black Hawk War and Mexican-American War.

Worth County rented a small stone building for county use in Northwood for three dollars per month. In 1865, a two-story courthouse was built.

After an attempt to change the county seat, a two-story Italianate brick courthouse was built in Northwood in 1880. After its use as a courthouse, this building served as a school, library, city hall, and now as the Worth County Historical Museum. The Old Worth County Courthouse was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1981.

The current courthouse is a Romanesque brick structure with a small tower designed by H. R. P. Hamilton and completed in 1893. An addition in 1990 provided a new jail, magistrate courtroom, and offices. The Worth County courthouse was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1981.

Visit the Worth County web site for more information.

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Jasper County Courthouse in Newton

Jasper County was named for Sergeant William Jasper, a hero of the American Revolutionary War.

Jasper County’s first courthouse was a small frame structure built in Newton in 1847.

The second courthouse was a two-story sandstone and brick building faced with limestone, built in 1858.

Today’s courthouse, a three story Beaux Arts design with Georgian Colonial detail by Proudfoot and Bird, was completed in 1911. The exterior is Bedford limestone, lined with brick. The interior features marble wainscoting, and ceramic tile mosaic floors, with the Seal of Jasper County on the rotunda floor. Only the doors and window casings are made from wood. The interior is decorated with ceramic tile and marble wainscoting. The dome features four paintings by Edgar Cameron depicting scenes in Jasper County’s history. The Jasper County courthouse was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1981.

Visit the Jasper County web site for more information.

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Chickasaw County Courthouse in New Hampton

Chickasaw County was named for the Chickasaw Native American tribe.

Chickasaw County’s first courthouse was a log cabin built in Bradford in 1854. The county seat moved to New Hampton (originally called Chickasaw Center) in 1857.

The courthouse in New Hampton was completed in 1865. The frame building, with a one-story brick addition in 1876, was destroyed by fire in 1880.

Chickasaw County’s third courthouse was built in 1881 in New Hampton, despite campaigns to move the county seat. Citizens of New Hampton supplied nearly half the cost of the brick and stone two story building with a bell tower. Wings were added on the north and south side of the courthouse in 1905 and 1906.

Chickasaw County’s current courthouse was completed in 1929. It is a moderne art deco design by Ralston and Ralson built with Bedford limestone. The Chickasaw County courthouse was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1981.

Visit the Chickasaw County web site for more information.

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Story County Courthouse in Nevada

Story County was named for Joseph Story, a justice of the United States Supreme Court.

Story County’s first courthouse was built in Nevada in 1855. The two-story frame building burned December 31, 1863. It was replaced by a similar building.

The third courthouse was a three story brick structure designed by William Foster. Completed in 1877, the courthouse originally featured a tower topped with the goddess of justice, which was later removed.

The fourth courthouse was completed in 1968. The Y-shaped building designed by Stenson & Warm now serves as the administration building and houses much of the non-court related county services.

Story County’s current courthouse was designed by Wells, Kastner, & Schipper and completed in 2002. The Justice Center houses the courtroom, clerk of court, county attorney, and sheriff.

Visit the Story County web site for more information.

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Muscatine County Courthouse in Muscatine

Muscatine County was named for either the Muscatine Native American tribe, the Native American word for prairie, or Muscatine Island in the Mississippi River.

Muscatine County’s first courthouse was a two-story brick building on a stone foundation in Bloomington (renamed Muscatine in 1851). It was destroyed by fire in 1864.

The second courthouse was built in 1867. The two-story brick structure featured a dome topped with a statue of the goddess of justice.

Muscatine’s county current courthouse is a three-story Beaux Arts designed by J. E. Mills, constructed with concrete and Bedford limestone. Completed in 1909, it features a clock tower dome supported by stone pillars. The Muscatine County courthouse was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1981.

Visit the Muscatine County web site for more information.

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Henry County Courthouse in Mount Pleasant

Henry County was named for Henry Dodge, a general in the Black Hawk War, governor of the Wisconsin Territory (which included present-day Iowa) and later U. S. senator from Wisconsin.

Henry County’s first courthouse was also the first courthouse in the state of Iowa. Built in 1839, the two-story brick structure was built in 1839 in Mount Pleasant, and was demolished in 1872.

The county then purchased “Hill Hall,” built in 1870, and remodeled the interior to accommodate offices and courtroom. It was used from 1871-1914.

Henry County’s current courthouse, a two story stone and brick Beaux Arts classical design by Joseph W. Royer, was completed in 1914. Bricks were supplied by Mt. Pleasant Brick and Tile. The Henry County courthouse was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1981.

Visit the Henry County web site for more information.

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Ringgold County Courthouse in Mount Ayr

Ringgold County was named for Major General Samuel B. Ringgold, who suffered the first American death in the Mexican-American War during the Battle of Palo Alto.

Ringgold County’s first courthouse was a small log structure built in Mount Ayr in 1856. It was destroyed by a tornado in 1858, scattering logs and county records; some records were never recovered.

The second courthouse was a larger frame building, constructed of native lumber. It served as the courthouse for about 25 years before it became too small and unsafe to use.

The third courthouse was completed in 1884, a two-story building with a tall clocktower made of locally fired bricks and grey stone. Poor drainage and inferior bricks eventually caused large cracks to form, and the building was condemned in 1921. Offices moved to a garage temporarily.

Today’s courthouse is a Classical Revival and Tudor structure designed by architects Keffer and Jones. This three story brick structure was built in 1926-27. The Ringgold County courthouse was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1981.

Visit the Ringgold County web site for more information.

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