Wabasha County is named for a three generation line of Sioux Native American chiefs named “Wabasha”.
Surrounding County Courthouses:
N – Goodhue County and Pepin County, Wisconsin
E – Buffalo County, Wisconsin
S – Winona County and Olmsted County
W – Goodhue County
Created: October 17, 1849 
County Seat:
Wabasha 1849 – present
County Courthouse – Wabasha
Location: 625 Jefferson Avenue / Market Street
Built: 1892 – 1893
Style: Romanesque
Architect: Albert Zshockse
Contractor: Evans, Chamberlain, Alexander and Lutz
Description: The building faces north and is a two story red colored brick rectangular structure. The building is located in the center of Wabasha. The foundation is rough limestone. The Romanesque features have been removed including the corner tower which was demolished in 1939. The central section projects from the main building and the roof line is flat. An addition of red colored brick was added in 1970 to form an “L” shape on the west side. The architect was Eckert and Carlson of Winona.
County Criminal Justice Center – Wabasha
Location: 848 East 17th Street / Hiawatha Drive East
Built: 2007 – 2009
Style: Modern
Architect: KKE Architects, Inc
Contractor: CAM, Inc.
Description: The building faces northeast and is a two story structure. The building is located on spacious grounds to the south of the center of the city. The building forms a “L” shape with the glass entrance in the center. The roof line is flat.
See: The 3rd Judicial District includes Dodge County, Fillmore County, Freeborn County, Houston County, Mower County, Olmsted County, Rice County, Steele County, Waseca County and Winona County.
History: The county was created in 1849 and Wabasha was selected as the county seat. The first courthouse was a leased hall and the first court was held in a warehouse in 1856 in Wabasha. In 1860, Wabasha donated a stone school house to serve as the second courthouse. In 1892, the original section of the present and third courthouse was constructed at a cost of $25,700. The County Criminal Justice Center was constructed in 2007 to 2009,
County Administration Building – Wabasha
Location: 625 Jefferson Avenue / Market Street
Built: Unknown
Style: Modern
Architect: Unknown
Contractor: Unknown
Description: The building faces south and is a two story brick and concrete structure. The building is located on landscaped grounds in the center of the city on the south side of the courthouse.
County Courthouse – Wabasha
County Administration Building – Wabasha
County Criminal Justice Center – Wabasha
Photos taken 2008, 2010, 2012 and 2019