Louisa County is named for Louisa Massey, who was a well known citizen because she avenged the murder of her brother when she shot the party responsible.
Created: December 7, 1836
County Seat:
Wapello 1840 – present
County Courthouse – Wapello
Location: 117 South Main Street / Washington Street
Built: 1928 – 1929
Style: Art Deco
Architect: Keiffer, Jones and Thomas of Des Moines
Contractor: Zohbon and Lewis of Des Moines
Description: The building faces east and is a two story buff colored brick and stone structure. The front has vertical white bands dividing the windows. A white colored horizontal band runs below the flat roof line. There is a large eagle carved in the stone above on the east front.
Note: The first courthouse was built in 1840 in Middle Wapello. The second courthouse was built by E D Isett in 1854 in Wapello at a cost of $9,578. A courthouse was built in Columbus Junction in 1872 at a cost of $25,000 but was converted for use as a school when the county seat was not moved there. The cost of construction of the present courthouse was $100,000.
Courthouses:
N – Johnson County and Muscatine County
E – Mercer County, Illinois
S – Des Moines County and Henry County
W – Henry County and Washington County
Photos taken 2008