La Salle County is named for Robert de La Salle, a French explorer who navigated the length of the Mississippi River and claimed the Louisiana Territory for France.
Surrounding County Courthouses:
N – Lee County and DeKalb County
E – Kendall County and Grundy County
S – Livingston County and Woodford County
W – Marshall County, Putnam County, Bureau County and Lee County
Created: January 15, 1831 
County Seat:
Ottawa 1831 – present
County Courthouse – Ottawa
Location: 119 West Madison Street / La Salle Street
Built: 1881 – 1883
Style: Renaissance
Architect: Minard Lafevre Beers of Chicago
Contractor: T Colwell and H Colwell
Description: The building faces north and is a four story buff colored limestone structure. The building is located on the landscaped grounds of the Courthouse Square in the center of Ottawa. On the north front, the building has a large arched portico rising to the third story. There is large arched window with clock above. The third and fourth stories have are high arched windows in the north section of the building. A decorative cornice follows the flat roof line. In the interior is a large courtroom and two small courtrooms. The building houses the County Circuit Court – Civil of the 13th Judicial Circuit.
County Criminal Justice Center – Ottawa
Location: 707 Etna Road / Cherie Lane
Built: 1974 – 1975
Style: Modern
Architect: Phillips Swager Associates Inc. of Peoria
Contractor: J L Wroan & Sons, Inc.
Description: The building faces east and is a four story concrete, brick and glass structure. The building is located on landscaped grounds to the northeast of the courthouse and on the northeast side of Ottawa. The building is “L” shaped with the courts located in the north section and the County Government Center in the south wing. The building is faced with dark red brick with the central entrance having a glassed atrium. The windows form horizontal lines across the building. The roof line is flat. The building houses the County Circuit Court – Criminal of the 13th Judicial Circuit.
See: The architect Phillips Swager Associates Inc. also designed Justice Centers in Rock Island County and Tazewell County.
See: The 13th Judicial Circuit includes Bureau County and Grundy County.
History: The county was created in 1831 and Ottawa was selected as the county seat. The first court met at the home of David Walker. The first courthouse was a two story frame structure erected in 1834 at a cost of $402. The second courthouse was a two story brick structure built by William E Flag in 1839 to 1842 at a cost of $25,000. The courthouse was destroyed by fire in 1881. The third and present courthouse was constructed in 1881 to 1883 at a cost of $127,127. The County Criminal Justice Center was constructed in 1974 to 1975.
See: Illinois Appellate Court – Ottawa - Third District
County Courthouse – Ottawa
County Criminal Justice Center – Ottawa
Photos taken 2007 and 2012