Pottawattamie County is named for the Pottawattamie Native American people who resided in the area.
Surrounding County Courthouses:
N – Harrison County and Shelby County
E – Cass County
S – Montgomery County and Mills County
W – Sarpy County, Nebraska, Douglas County, Nebraska and Washington County, Nebraska
Created: February 21, 1848
County Seat:
Council Bluffs 1848 – present
County Courthouse – Council Bluffs
Location: 227 South 6th Street / 5th Avenue
Built: 1977 – 1978
Style: Modern
Architect: Hollis and Miller
Contractor: A Borchman Sons Company
Description: The building faces east and is a five story buff colored brick, concrete and glass structure. The building has a recessed entrance on the east side. Vertical brick dividers ascend to the fifth story which is solid brick. White colored concrete siding is below the brickwork. An east wing of two stories extends eastwards. The roof line is flat. The building houses the County District Court of the 4 Judicial District.
See: The 4th Judicial District includes Audubon County, Cass County, Fremont County, Harrison County, Mills County, Montgomery County, Page County and Shelby County.
History: The county was created in 1848 and Council Bluffs was selected as the county seat. The first courthouse was built in 1848 and was abandoned for rented premises. The second courthouse was built in 1868 at a cost of $42,000. The third courthouse was designed by Eckel & Mann and constructed by Wickham Brothers in 1885 to 1888 at a cost of $141,800. The fourth and present courthouse was constructed in 1977 to 1978.

County Courthouse – Council Bluffs


Photos taken 2008