Chippewa County is named for the Chippewa or Ojibway Indians and the Chippewa River, which joins the Minnesota River in the county. “Chippewa” is a French corruption of “Ojibway”.
Surrounding County Courthouses:
N – Swift County
E – Kandiyohi County
S – Renville County and Yellow Medicine County
W – Yellow Medicine County and Lac Qui Parle County
Created: February 20, 1862 
County Seat:
Chippewa City 1862 – 1870
Montevideo 1870 – present
County Courthouse – Montevideo
Location: 629 North 11th Street / Washington Avenue
Built: 1955 – 1957
Style: Modern / Corporate International
Architect: Thorshov and Cerny, Inc. of Minneapolis
Contractor: Dean Contracting and Pedersen Bros.
Description: The building faces east and is a two story stone and glass structure. The building sits on a 10 acre site of landscaped grounds to the east of the center of Montevideo. The building is flat, blocky and functional. A second floor projects out onto four heavy piers that give the effect of a classical portico. At the same time the windowless projection adds weight and dignity to the building. A one-story wing is attached on the south side. In the interior, the long corridors have terrazzo floors, marble-faced walls, and stair-railings of polished aluminum. On the first story is a wide open lobby with stairs ascending to the second story. On the second story the County District Courtroom is located at the northeast corner over the main entrance and is finished in dark cherry wood and has a high ceiling. The County District Court small courtroom is located along the center of the north side and is furnished in light Philippine mahogany. The building houses the County District Court of the 8th Judicial District.
.
See: The 8th Judicial District includes Big Stone County, Grant County, Kandiyohi County, Lac Qui Parle County, Meeker County, Pope County, Renville County, Stevens County, Swift County, Traverse County, Wilkin County and Yellow Medicine County.
History: The county was created in 1862 and Chippewa City was selected as the county seat. The county seat was moved to Montevideo in 1870. No courthouse was built until 1883 when the first courthouse was designed by J Haley of Minneapolis and was built by Augustus A Whittemore at a cost of $9,350. The building was enlarged in 1901. The second and present was constructed in 1955 to 1957 at a cost of $900,000.
County Courthouse – Montevideo
County District Court courtroom
County District Court small courtroom
Photos taken 2007, 2010, 2017 and 2023