Cerro Gordo County is named for the battle of Cerro Gordo during the Mexican-American War.
Created: January 15, 1851
County Seat:
Mason City 1855 – 1856
Livonia 1856 – 1858
Mason City 1858 – present
County Courthouse – Mason City
Location: 220 North Washington Avenue / 3rd Street NW
Built: 1936 – 1937
Style: Modern
Architect: Unknown
Contractor: Unknown
Description: The building faces east and is a three story buff colored brick and concrete structure. Light coloured stone frames the east entrance. White finished concrete faces the east front with a stone frame. A bell tower stands separately at the southeast corner. The building was previously the Standard Oil Building. The building was renovated in 1941. The County acquired and renovated the building in 1959. The architect was Liebenberg & Kaplan Architects and Engineers. The building was expanded in 1977 and 1978. The architect was Associated Engineers..
Note: The first courthouse was built in Livonia 1856. The second courthouse was built in Mason City in 1866. The previous courthouse was designed by William Rush and Bowman & Company and constructed by Northern Building Company in 1902 at a cost 0f $64,000.
Courthouses:
N – Worth County
E – Mitchell County and Floyd County
S – Franklin County
W – Hancock County
Photos taken 2008 and 2010