The red brick Howard County Courthouse in Cresco dates to 1880, constructed at a cost of under $7,000. By 1938, portions of the building had been condemned, but a proposal to construct a new courthouse facility was soundly defeated. Another proposal to build a new courthouse was voted down in 1955, but in 1964, voters approved a $60,000 bond issue to extend the courthouse with additions to the north and south of the existing building. The Howard County Courthouse was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1981.
In November 1974, voters in Hamilton County overwhelmingly supported plans for a new, $1.25 million courthouse building to be constructed on the outskirts of Webster City. At the time, the existing courthouse building was 98 years old and when an architectural firm surveyed the structure in 1969, they concluded “any direct addition to or attempted remodeling of the present courthouse would not be in the best interests of Hamilton County.” The firm cited fire hazards, outdated mechanical and electric systems, a roof in need of complete replacement, and lack of handicapped accessibility as key reasons for construction of a new courthouse.
The two-story modern Hamilton County Courthouse opened in 1976 near the intersection of State Highway 17 and the U.S. Highway 20 bypass in Webster City. The split-level building was designed by a Des Moines-based architectural firm and constructed of brick and concrete on a foundation of black Georgia stone. The old courthouse was demolished the same year.
Construction began on the new Montgomery County Courthouse in Red Oak in 1890, and the new structure was officially dedicated July 4 the following year. Ten thousand or more visitors came to see the new brick and sandstone structure, which had a 91-foot by 72-foot footprint and stood over 60 feet high. At over 100 feet tall, the clock tower may be the most distinguishing feature of the Romanesque courthouse, which was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1981.
This booklet was distributed when the Fayette County Courthouse in West Union was dedicated October 8, 1924. The ceremony included music from the Oelwein City Concert Band, Fayette County Consolidated Bands, and the Girls Glee Club from Upper Iowa University. The dedication was followed by a barbeque held in the square and an open house later that afternoon. Evening festivities included a band concert and dancing at the Courthouse and Opera House starting at 9:00 p.m. that evening.
The cornerstone was laid for the $300,000 project on June 21, 1923, just over a year after the previous courthouse was destroyed by fire. Constructed of gray Bedford stone, the dedication packet highlights the marble in the toilet rooms, offices assigned to the County Attorney, the automatic electric elevator, the third story rotunda and courtroom, which featured natural lighting and modern furniture. Over a third of the courthouse was funded by private donations from West Union residents.
In 1871, residents in Clay County in northwestern Iowa voted to move the county seat from Peterson to Spencer. The first two courthouses were built at a combined cost of $6,500 and were criticized by citizens as being “plain and boring” in comparison to other equivalent facilities across the state. In 1900, construction was started on a new $60,000 Clay County Courthouse, and the doors were opened to the public on September 1901.
In 1979, the Clay County Board of Supervisors dedicated $2.1 million to renovate the courthouse and construct a separate administration building. The projects were completed in 1982. The Clay County Courthouse is one of eight buildings in the county on the National Register of Historic Places. It was added to the list in 1981.
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