Houston County is named for Sam Houston, who was a Texas politician.
Surrounding County Courthouses:
N – Winona County
E – La Crosse County, Wisconsin and Vernon County, Wisconsin
S – Allamakee County, Iowa and Winneshiek County, Iowa
W – Fillmore County
Created: February 23, 1854 
County Seat:
Caledonia 1855 – present
County Courthouse – Caledonia
Location: 304 South Marshall Street / Washington Street
Built: 1883 – 1885
Style: Romanesque
Architect: Maybury and Sons of Winona
Contractor: Noonan and Stellwager
Description: The building faces east and is a two story brown colored rough limestone structure. The building is located on landscaped grounds in the center of Caledonia. The east front has a recessed entrance trimmed with stone on the first story. Above rises a high square stone tower with peaked roof. The building extends outwards on the north and south sides. The building contains five chandeliers and ornamental woodwork. The old courtroom is located on the second story and is used as the Commissioer’s RoomIn 1965 and 1966, an annex was added. The contractor was Nelson Construction Company of Caledonia. In 1977, another larger addition was added on the north side. The contractor was Kratt, Meyer and Lachecki of La Crosse, Wisconsin.
See: National Register of Historic Places – Houston County Courthouse and Jail
County Justice Center – Caledonia
Location: 304 South Marshall Street / Washington Street
Built: 2017 – 2018
Style: Modern
Architect: Klein McCarthy Group
Contractor: Knutson Construction Services
Description: The building faces south and is a one story buff colored brick and concrete structure. The building is located on landscaped grounds in the center of Caledonia on the east side of the courthouse. The rectangular building has a projecting square concrete tower at the south side with the main entrance. The windows are narrow and vertical. The roof line is flat. The courtroom are located along the east side of the second story. On the second story are two murals from the old courthouse. The building contains the jail with the old 1875 Jail on the northwest.
See: The 3rd Judicial District includes Dodge County, Fillmore County, Freeborn County, Mower County, Olmsted County, Rice County, Steele County, Wabasha County, Waseca County and Winona County.
History: The county was created in 1854 and Caledona was designated as the county seat in 1855. The first courthouse was built in 1857 and the second courthouse was built in 1868 at a cost of $2,000. The cost of construction of the third and and present courthouse in 1883 to 1885 was $60,000. The County Justice Center was constructed in 2017 to 2018.
County Courthouse – Caledonia
County Justice Center – Caledonia
Old County Jail – Caledonia
Photos taken 2008 and 2019