Isabella County | US Courthouses

Isabella County is named for Queen Isabella of Spain, whose patronage permitted Christopher Columbus to undertake his voyage to America.

Surrounding County Courthouses:

N – Clare County

E – Midland County

S – Gratiot County and Montcalm County

W – Mecosta County

Created: March 2, 1831

County Seat:

Isabella Center 1859 – 1860

Mount Pleasant 1860 – present

County Courthouse – Mount Pleasant

Location: 300 North Main Street / East Lincoln Street

Built: 1999 – 2000

Style: Modern

Architect: Othe, Duffy, Bassinger & Dice

Contractor: Three Rivers Construction of Midland

Description: The building faces west and is a two story brick, glass and concrete structure. The building is located on landscaped grounds in the center of Mount Pleasant. The center section rises above the north and south wings and has an overhang at the entrance and large glass window on the second story. The roof line is flat. In the interior is an entrance lobby. In one of the courtroom is a Native Americam dream catcher. The building houses the County Circuit Court of the 21st Judicial District, County District Court and County Probate Court. The former courthouse which is now the Countyn Administration Building is located on the south side.

County Administration Building – Mount Pleasant

Location: 200 North Main Street / East Mosher Street

Built: 1970 – 1972

Style: Modern

Architect: Wakely-Kushner-Wakley-Associates

Contractor: Gerace Construction Company.

Description: The building faces west and is a two story white colored stone, glass and concrete structure. The building is located on landscaped grounds in the center of Mount Pleasant on the south side of the courthouse. The building has the main entrance at the southwest corner where there is a glass lobby and has horizontal windows with narrow vertical black colored dividers. The roof line is flat. The building is the former courthouse.

History: The county was created in 1831 and Isabella Center was selected as the county seat in 1859 when the county was organized. The first courthouse was a log structure owned by Dr. Jeffries where the first court was held. In 1860, the county seat was moved to Mount Pleasant. The second courthouse was a modest structure built by W H Nelson at a cost of $140. The third courthouse was a two story red colored brick structure designed by Fred W Hollister and constructed by Hemmeter-Kaiser in 1876 to 1877 at a cost of $16,190. The dome has been preserved and sit on the grounds of the present courthouse. The fourth courthouse was constructed in 1972 to 1973 and now serves as the County Administration Building. The fifth and present courthouse was constructed in 1999 to 2000 at a cost of $6,000,000.

See: Michigan’s County Courthouses by John Fedynsky