San Juan County is named for the San Juan River which flows through the county and was named by Spanish explorers for “Saint John”.
Surrounding County Courthouses:
N – Grand County
E – Mesa County, Colorado, Montrose County, Colorado, San Miguel County, Colorado, Dolores County, Colorado and Montezuma County, Colorado
S – Apache County, Arizona, Navajo County and Coconino County, Arizona
W – Kane County, Garfield County and Wayne County
Created: February 17, 1880 
County Seat:
Monticello 1895 – present
County Courthouse – Monticello
Location: 117 South Main Street / East 100 Street South
Built: 1920 – 1938
Style: Renaissance
Architect: Ashton and Nielson Contractors
Contractor: Ashton & Nielson Contractors
Description: The building faces west and is a two story dark red colored brick and concrete structure. The building is located on landscaped grounds in the center of Monticello. The building has four stone columns supporting a wide white colored headed above the entrance. Above are four white colored vertical pilasters with an arched window on the second story. Above this is a white colored framed pediment with a white colored cornice along the flat roof line. The first story windows are arched. There is a rough stone basement. On the east side is a two story brick and concrete addition constructed in 1955.
Note: The bid for construction was accepted in 1920 and. In 1922, the first two occupied rooms in the courthouse were without adequate heating and modern plumbing. In 1927, the rooms of the clerk and treasurer were occupied. The courthouse was completed in 1938.
County Public Safety Building – Monticello
Location: 297 South Main Street / East 300 Street South
Built: 1988 – 1989
Style: Modern
Architect: Dana Larson Roubal and Associates Inc.
Contractor: Unknown
Description: The building faces southwest and is a one story dark red colored brick and concrete structure. The building is located on landscaped grounds in the center of Monticello to the south of the courthouse. The building is a triangle shape and has an overhang on the southwest front supported by concrete pillars. The central entrance id recessed. The roof line is flat. The building houses the County Justice Court.
See: The 7th Judicial District includes Grand County.
History: The county was created in 1880 and Bluff was selected as the county seat. The county occupied rented premises. In 1895, the county seat was moved to Monticello. The first and present courthouse was constructed from 1920 to 1938 at a cost of $47,937. The County Public Safety Building was constructed in 1987 to 1988.
County Courthouse – Monticello
County Public Safety Building – Monticello
Canyonlands National Park
Natural Bridges National Monument
Photos taken 2008