Ransom County is named for General Thomas Edward Greenfield Ransom (1834 – 1864), who died for the Union in the Civil War.
Surroundinf County Courthouses:
N – Barnes County and Cass County
E – Richland County
S – Sargent County
W – LaMoure County
Created: January 4, 1873 
County Seat:
Lisbon 1881 – present
County Courthouse – Lisbon
Location: 204 5th Avenue West / Elm Street
Built: 1938
Style: Art Deco
Architect: Ira L Rush of Minot
Contractor: H L Stavn Company of Minot
Description: The building faces south and is three story gray colored limestone and concrete structure. The building is located on landscaped grounds in the center of Lisbon. The south center portico rises above the entrance to the third story with carved stone at the top. The west and east ends of the building are recessed. The roof line is flat. The building rests upon a granite base, and load bearing hollow tile backs up the Bedford stone exterior. In the interior, the floors are finished with terrazzo. Marble wainscoting accompanies stairs, bathrooms, and public corridors. The visual lines of the County District Court courtroom located on the north side of the third story continue the exterior Deco styling. The walls convey vertical lines; lines on the wood paneling behind the judge’s bench are on a diagonal; and the hanging light fixtures carry horizontal lines. The building houses the County District Court of the Southeast Judicial District.
See: The architect, Ira L Rush of Minot, also designed the courthouses in Adams County, Burleigh County and Sheridan County.
See: Other Art Deco style courthouses are located in Burleigh County, Emmons County, Hettinger County, Sheridan County, Stark County and Walsh County.
See: National Register of Historic Places – Ransom County Courthouse
See: The Southeast Judicial District includes Barnes County, Dickey County, Eddy County, Foster County, Griggs County, Kidder County, LaMoure County, Logan County, McIntosh County, Richland County, Sargent County, Stutsman County and Wells County.
History: The county was created in 1873 and Lisbon was selected as the county seat in 1881 when the county was organized. The county used rented premises. The first courthouse was a two story structure built in 1887. An addition was constructed in 1898. The second and present courthouse was constructed in 1838.
County Courthouse – Lisbon
County District Court courtroom
Photos taken 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2018