Clay County | US Courthouses

Clay County is named for Henry Clay Jr., who was a Colonel who died in action in the Mexican-American War and who was the son of Henry Clay, a famous American.

Surrounding County Courthouses:

N – Dickinson County

E – Palo Alto County

S – Buena Vista County

W – O’Brien County

Created: January 18, 1851

County Seat:

Peterson 1851 – 1871

Spencer 1871 – present

County Courthouse – Spencer

Location: 215 West 4th Street / 2nd Avenue West

Built: 1900 – 1901

Style: Classical Revival

Architect: Kinney & Detweiler of Minneapolis, Minnesota

Contractor: E Miller

Description: The building faces south and is a two story Portage Entry Red Stone and concrete structure. The building is located on landscaped grounds in the center of the city. The front has a large portico supported by four large columns rising to a pediment at the roof with an American Eagle with outstretched wings surrounded by a laurel wreath. A dark red stone forms the base of the building. On the center of the roof is a large bronze dome. The building houses the County District Court of the 3A Judicial District. The clock tower was added in 1910. The building was renovated in 1981 to 1982. The architect was Fritzel-Kroeger-Griffin & Berg and the contractor was Spencer Construction Company Inc.

History: The county was created in 1851 and Peterson was selected as the county seat. The first courthouse was built in Peterson at a cost of $6,900 in 1851. The second courthouse was built in Spencer in 1871 at a cost of $1,333. And soon the third courthouse was built at a cost of $4,435. The present and fourth courthouse was constructed at a cost of $60,000.

County Administration – Spencer