Gem County is named for the nickname of Idaho, the “Gem State”, and the fruit growers called the valley “Gem of Plenty”.
Surrounding County Courthouses:
N – Adams County
E – Valley County and Boise County
S – Ada County and Canyon County
W – Payette County and Washington County
Created: March 15, 1915
County Seat:
Emmett 1915 – present
County Courthouse – Emmett
Location: 415 East Main Street / South McKinley Avenue
Built: 1938 – 1939
Style: Art Deco
Architect: Frank Hummel of Tourtellotte and Hummel of Boise
Contractor: David Richardson of Caldwell
Description: The building faces north and is a two story gray colored stone, concrete and glass structure. The rectangular shaped building is located on landscaped grounds in the center of Emmett. The center section projects from the main building and rises above the roof line. The entrance is recessed with a recessed window above on the second story. Vertical dividers separate the windows. The roof line is flat. The courtroom is located on the second story. The building houses the County District Court and County Magistrate Court of the 3rd Judicial District. The building was constructed as a Works Project Administration.
See: The architect, Tourtellotte & Hummel of Boise also designed courthouses in Owyhee County and Washington County.
See: National Register of Historic Places – Gem County Courthouse
See: The 3rd Judicial District includes Adams County, Canyon County, Owyhee County, Payette County and Washington County.
History: The county was created in 1915 and Emmett was selected as the county seat. The first courthouse was a frame structure which burned in 1920. The county rented premises. The second and present courthouse was constructed in 1938 to 1939 at a cost of $66,276.
County Courthouse – Emmett
Photos taken 2009