Rush County is named for Alexander Rush, Captain of company H, second colored infantry, who was killed April 3, 1864 at Jenkins Ferry, Arkansas.
Surrounding County Courthouses:
N – Ellis County
E – Barton County
S – Pawnee County
W – Ness County
Created: February 26, 1867 
County Seat:
Walnut City 1874 – 1877
La Crosse 1877 – 1878
Walnut City 1878 – 1882
La Crosse 1882 – present
County Courthouse – La Crosse
Location: 715 Elm Street / West 12th Street
Built: 1888 – 1889
Style: Romanesque
Architect: L L Levering
Contractor: William T Heaps
Description: The building faces east and is a two story red colored brick structure. The building is located on spacious landscaped grounds in the center of La Crosse. The southeast tower is round with a conical roof topped by an onion-shaped finial. The northeast tower is square and when built had a steeply pitched hip roof. Arched openings pierce the upper part of the square tower. The main entrance, reached by a set of wide masonry steps, is set within a stone arch that is repeated twice above in the projecting entrance bay. The building has a rough-hewn native limestone base. In the interior are wood stairs and trim. The County District Court courtroom is located on the west side of the second story and has stained glass windows. The building houses the County District Court of the 24th Judicial District.
Note: The cost of construction of the courthouse was $17,950. The project was hindered by considerable bickering between the contractor, the commissioners, and George Shaffer, who was the superintendent of construction. Allegedly the plans were poorly drawn and the commissioners insisted on making numerous changes. Despite the delays, the building was finished by the spring of 1889.
See: National Register of Historic Places – Rush County Courthouse
See: The 24th Judicial District includes Edwards County, Hodgeman County, Lane County, Ness County and Pawnee County.
History: Due to a long county seat war with Walnut City, no courthouse was erected. The first and present courthouse was constructed in 1888 to 1889.
County Courthouse – La Crosse
County Distrist Court courtroom
Photos taken 2007, 2010 and 2022