Rio Arriba is named after the Spanish designation of the region meaning “upper river”.
Created: January 29 1852
County Seat:
San Pedro de Chamita 1852
Los Luceros 1852 – 1860
Plaza de Alcade 1860 – 1880
Tierra Amarilla 1880 – present
County Courthouse – Tierra Amarilla
Location: 7 Main Street – Highway 512 / Highway 162
Built: 1916 – 1917
Style: Spanish Classical Revival
Architect: Issac Hamilton Rapp
Contractor: C M Campbell & R E Campbell of Santa Fe
Description: The building faces north and is a two story buff colored brick structure. The north front has three arches on the first story with a recessed entrance. Above the entrance are four white columns faming three windows. Around the roof edge is a white wide border projecting from the building. on the north side of the building is the County Administration Building.
Note: The first courthouse was built in 1880 when Rio Arriba became the county seat. The courthouse was demolished when the present courthouse was constructed.
See: The architect, Issac Hamilton Rapp, also designed courthouses in Colorado in Las Animas County, in New Mexico in Chaves County and in Texas in Donley County.
County Administration – Tierra Amarilla
Location: 10 Main Street – Highway 512 / Highway 162
Built: 1999 – 200
Style: Modern
Architect: Architectural Alliance, Inc.
Contractor: Star Construction, Inc.
Description: The building faces south and is a one story buff colored brick structure. The building forms a “U” shape with an east and west wing. The south front has a small plaza with central entrance. The roof is hipped.
Courthouses:
N – Archuleta County, Colorado and Conejos County, Colorado
E – Taos County and Mora County
S – Santa Fe County, Los Alamos County and Sandoval County
W – San Juan County
Photos taken 2007 and 2016