Wasco County | US Courthouses

Wasco County is named for the Wasco ( Wascopam ) Native American tribe.

Surrounding County Courthouses:

N – Klickitat County, Washington

E – Sherman County, Gilliam County and Wheeler County

S – Jefferson County

W – Marion County, Clackamas County and Hood River County

Created: January 11, 1854

County Seat:

The Dalles 1854 – present

County Courthouse – The Dalles

Location: 511 Washington Street / East 6th Street

Built: 1913 – 1914

Style: Classical Revival

Architect: Charles J Crandall

Contractor: S N Arnold and A A Lambert

Description: The building faces southeast and is a two story gray colored stone structure. The building sits on a slope in the center of The Dalles. The southeast front has a large portico supported by four high Corinithian columns rising to a wide header at the roof line. The recessed entrance has a cornice above the doorway and a large window above on the second story. There is a wide cornice running below the roof line. The doors and window frames came fully assembled from the Doernbecker Factory in Portland. The interior halls have marble. The County Circuit Court courtroom is located on the second story.

Note: S N Arnold constructed the foundation and walls for $41,764 and A A Lambert completed construction at a cost of $53,884. G M Sutherland Company of Walla Walla did the heating, Pauley Jail Building Company of St. Louis, Missouri supplied the jail equipment and Boyajohn-Arnold completed the interior. The total cost of construction was $159,000.

Old County Courthouse – The Dalles

Location: 404 West 3rd Street / Union Street

Built: 1883 – 1884

Style: Classical Revival

Architect: Warren Haywood Williams

Contractor: N J Blagen

Description: The building faces south and a two story red colored brick structure. The building is located on landscaped grounds in the center of The Dalles. The southwest front has a projecting center section with central entrance on the first story. Above, rises a clock tower. Along the east side are two projecting sections with pediments at the top. The windows are vertical and arched. The building is now the Masonic Temple and a restaurant.

Original County Courthouse – The Dalles

Location: 410 West 2nd Place / Pentland Street

Built: 1858 – 1859

Style: Federal

Architect: W C Wallace

Contractor: W C Wallace

Description: The building faces northeast and is a two story wood frame structure. The building was originally located at Court Street and 3rd Street in The Dalles. The northeast front has a porch on the first story with central entrance. Stair ascend the west side. The roof is hipped. Most of the lumber came from the J H Mosier mill at Mosier. The building served as the courthouse from 1859 to 1882 when it became the City Hall until 1907.

See: National Registwer of Historic Places – Original Wasco County Courthouse

See: The 7th Judicial District includes Gilliam County, Hood River County, Sherman County and Wheeler County

History: The county was created in 1854 and The Dalles was selected as the county seat. The county used rented premises until the first courthouse was built in 1858 to 1859. The courthouse is still standing. The second courthouse was built in 1883 to 1884 at a cost of $23,000 and is still standing. The third and present courthouse was constructed in 1912 to 1914 at a cost of $159,000.