Kootenai County | US Courthouses

Kootenai County is named for the Kutenai Native American tribe who resided in the region.

Surrounding County Courthouses:

N – Bonner County

E – Shoshone County

S – Benewah County

W – Spokane County, Washington

Created: December 22, 1864

County Seat:

Rathdrum 1881 – 1908

Coeur d’Alene 1908 – present

County Courthouse – Coeur d’Alene

Location: 501 North Government Way / West Garden Avenue

Built: 1925 – 1926

Style: Georgia Revival

Architect: Julius A. Zittle

Contractor: C L Muller.

Description: The building faces east and is a two story buff colored brick and concrete structure. The building is located on landscaped grounds in the center of Coeur d’Alene. There is a small portico at the front with small balcony above. The second story round arched windows continue the balustrade motif. Below these windows is a cut-stone and terra cotta band molding. Brick pilasters with terra cotta round arches frame the windows. A lower section extends on either side of main building. The roof line is flat. In the interior there are three courtrooms which are located on the third story.

See: National Register of Historic Places – Kootenai County Courthouse

County Justice Building – Coeur d’Alene

Location: 324 West Garden Avenue / Northwest Boulevard

Built: !985 – 1986

Style: Modern

Architect: Sam E Rodell

Contractor: Great Northern Construction of Hayden Lake

Description: The building faces north and is a two story buff colored brick and concrete structure. The building is located on landscaped grounds in the center of Coeur d’Alene on the west side of the courthouse. The main north entrance is on the second story and the building descends south down a slope with west entrance on the first story. The roof line is flat. The building houses the County District Court and County Magistrate Court of the 1st Judicial District.

County Administration Building – Coeur d’Alene

Location: 451 North Government Way / Northwest Boulevard

Built: 1996 – 1997

Style: Modern

Architect: H2A Architects of Coeur d’Alene

Contractor: Polin Construction, Inc. of Coeur d’Alene

Description: The building faces south and is a three story red and white colored brick and concrete structure. The building is located on landscaped grounds in the center of Coeur d’Alene on the south side of the courthouse. The roof line is flat.

Old County Courthouse – Coeur d’Alene

Location: 424 Sherman Street / 5th Street

Built: !905 – 1906

Style: Neo-Classical

Architect: George Williams

Contractor: Branson and Max

Description: The building faces west and is a three story buff colored stone, brick and concrete structure. The building is located in the center of Coeur d’Alene. The west front has a projecting center section with a round arched entry with a modillion-like keystone. The terra cotta ornamentation is in the spandrels. Pilasters with terra cotta caps support a frieze and cornice with a balustrade on the second story. A wide cornice runs below the flat roof line with ornamentation below. The foundation is constructed of raised smooth stone. The building served as courthouse until 1926 and then as the City Hall.

See: National Register of Historic Places – Coeur d’Alene City Hall

See: The Old County Jail built in 1892 is located in Rathdrum at 1940 West 2nd Street and West Gray Street.

See: The 1st Judicial District includes Benewah County, Bonner County, Boundary County and Shoshone County.

History: The county was created in 1864 and was part of Nez Perce County for judicial purposes. Rathdrum was selected as the county seat in 1881 when the county was organized. The county used rented premises until the first courthouse, a two story frame structure was built by the Coeur d’Alene Mill Company in 1889. The courthouse was expanded in 1894. In 1908 the county seat was moved to Coeur d’Alene. The second courthouse was constructed in 1905 to 1906 and became the courthouse and then the City Hall in 1926. The third and present courthouse was constructed in 1925 to 1926. The County Justice Building was constructed in 1985. The County Administration Building was constructed in 1996 to 1997.