Scotts Bluff County

US States / N / Nebraska / Scotts Bluff County
Scotts Bluff

Scotts Bluff County is named for a local bluff known as Scott’s Bluff which was a noted landmark by the side of the Platte River Valley and named after Hiram Scott who perished at its foot.

 

Surrounding County Courthouses: 

N – Sioux County and Box Butte County

E – Morrill County 

S – Banner County

W – Goshen County, Wyoming

 

Created:  November 6, 1888                  Map of Nebraska highlighting Scotts Bluff County

County Seat:

Gering  1888 – present

 

County Courthouse – Gering 

 

Location:  1725 10th Street / R Street

Built:  1920 – 1921

Style:  Classical Revival

Architect:  William N Bowman of Denver, Colorado

Contractor:  C E Goodhand of Ord

 

Description:  The building faces east and is a three story buff colored brick and concrete structure. The building is located on landscaped grounds in the center of Gering. The rectangular shaped building has a raised basement. The east front of the building has a large portico supported by six large Tuscan limestone columns rising to a wide header above the third story. A notable parapet has an openwork grill with a starburst pattern and an attractive round clock centered above the entrance. The first story entrance is recessed with an arched frame and small balcony above. The rear or west facade also has an entrance and continues the materials and ornamentation of the other facades. The roof line is flat. Original interior features include the woodwork, white colored hexagonal floor tile (with a border of dark and light grey, dark and light green), white marble wainscoting, and attractive metal stair railings having an open geometric pattern. The central hallway on the first story is cross-shaped and open at the center from the first to third stories. Some of the office space has been converted into courtrooms. The building houses the District Court and County Court of the 12th Judicial District.

 

See:  The architect, William N Bowman of Denver, Colorado, designed courthouses in Colorado in Jackson County, Moffat County, Montrose County and Weld County.

 

See:  National Register of Historic Places – Scotts Bluff County Courthouse

 

See:  The 12th Judicial District includes Banner CountyBox Butte CountyCheyenne County, Dawes CountyDeuel County, Garden CountyGrant County, Kimball County, Morrill CountySheridan County and Sioux County.

 

History:  The county was created in 1888 and Gering was selected as the county seat in 1889. The first courthouse was a two story structure built by Edward W Sayre in 1891. The second and present courthouse was constructed in 1920 to 1921 at a cost of $204,534.

 

County Administration Building – Gering 

 

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Location:  1825 10th Street / S Street

Built:  1977 – 1978

Style:  Modern

Architect:  Boyer Biskup Bonge & Associates of Omaha

Contractor:  Boyer Biskup Bonge & Associates of Omaha

 

Description:  The building faces east and is a two story red colored brick and concrete structure. The building is located on landscaped grounds in the center of Gering on the north side of the courthouse. The east front has a recessed glass entrance. The recessed windows are horizontal. The roof line is flat. 

 

 

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County Courthouse - Gering

 

 

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Commissioner Minutes 1920

 

 

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County Administration Building – Gering

 

 

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Photos taken 2010