Redwood County is named for the Redwood River and “redwood” is the translation of the Dakota name “chanshayapi”.
Surrounding County Courthouses:
N – Yellow Medicine County and Renville County
E – Renville County and Brown County
S – Brown County, Cottonwood County and Murray County
W – Lyon County and Yellow Medicine County
Created: February 6, 1862 
County Seat:
Redwood Falls 1866 – present
County Courthouse – Redwood Falls
Location: 250 South Jefferson Street NW / 3rd Street
Built: 1891 – 1892
Style: Romanesque Revival
Architect: E P Bassford of Saint Paul
Contractor: William Lettau
Description: The building faces west and is a three story red colored brick and granite structure. The building is located on landscaped grounds in the center of Redwood Falls. The building has a glassed portico at the front entrance. The base of the building is course white colored stone. The roof is hipped. The courtroom is located on the second story.The building houses the County District Court of the 5th Judicial District. An addition was added on the east side in 1970. The architect was Glen Cording Associates, Inc.
See: The 5th Judicial District includes Blue Earth County, Brown County, Cottonwood County, Faribault County, Jackson County, Lincoln County, Lyon County, Martin County, Murray County, Nicolett County, Nobles County, Pipestone County, Rock County and Watonwan County.
History: The county was created in 1862 and Redwood Falls was selected as the county seat in 1866. The first court was convened in a hall owned by J Schmalll in 1866 and the next year court was held over a store owned by Louis Robert. In 1870, the first courthouse was built. In 1872, the courthouse square was deeded to the county by Sam McPail. The second courthouse was built by A Dolvin at a cost of $2,150. The third and present courthouse was constructed in 1891 to 1892 at a cost of $35,000.
County Courthouse – Redwood Falls
Photos taken 2008 and 2017