Worth County

US States / H-L / Iowa / Worth County
Worth

Worth County is named for William Jenkins Worth, who was an officer in the Black Hawk War and in the Mexican-American War.

 

Surrounding County Courthouses: 

N – Freeborn County, Minnesota and Mower County, Minnesota 

E – Mitchell County

S – Cerro Gordo County 

W – Winnebego County

 

Created:  January 15, 1851                    Map of Iowa highlighting Worth County

County Seat:

Northwood  1855 – present

 

County Courthouse – Northwood

 

Location:  1000 Central Avenue / 10th Street North

Built:  1893 – 1894

Style:  Romanesque

Architect:  H R P Hamilton

Contractor:  S Road

 

Description: The building faces south and is a two story red colored brick structure.  The building is located on landscaped grounds in the center of Northwood. The south entrance has a large arch trimmed with stone on the first story. On the east side of the entrance is a square brick tower rising to the third story. There is stone trim above the windows. The base of the building is course white stone. The building houses the County District Court of the 2A Judicial District. The building was enlarged and remodeled in 1938.

 

Old County Courthouse – Northwood

 

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Location:  917 Central Avenue / Orchid Avenue ( 10th Street )

Built:  1879 – 1880

Style:  Italianate

Architect:  Simon Larson

Contractor:  Simon Larson

 

Description: The building faces north and is a two story dark red colored brick and stone structure. The building is located on landscaped grounds in the center of Northwood to the southwest of the courthouse.  On the north side is a one story projecting section at the entrance. The windows are arched and the roof is hipped. The foundation of the building is white colored course stone. The building served as the courthouse until 1892. Since 1973, the building houses the Worth County Historical Museum.

 

See:  The 2A Judicial District includes Bremer County, Butler County, Cerro Gordo County, Floyd CountyFranklin CountyHancock CountyMitchell County and Winnebego County.

 

History:  The county was created in 1851 and Northwood was selected as the county seat in 1855. The county seat was moved to Bristol in 1858 and first court met in 1859. The county seat was returned to Northwood in 1863. The county met in various premises and in 1878 the first courthouse was built at a cost of $4,400. The second and present courthouse was constricted in 1893 to 1894.

 

 

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County Courthouse – Northwood

 

 

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Old County Courthouse – Northwood

Photos taken 2008