Santa Cruz County is named for the Santa Cruz River and the Spanish for “santa” is “saint” and for “cruz” is “cross”.
Surrounding County Courthouses:
N – Pima County
E – Cochise County
S – Mexico
W – Pima County
Created: March 15, 1899 
County Seat:
Nogales 1899 – present
County Courthouse – Nogales
Location: 2150 North Congress Drive ( north end )
Built: 1987 – 1988
Style: Modern
Architect: R C Hanson & Associates of Tucson
Contractor: Trademark Construction Team of Yuma
Description: The building faces south and is a one story yellow colored stucco, concrete and glass Pueblo structure. The building sits atop a hill on landscaped ground on the north side of the center of Nogales. The entrance has a peaked roof and large square pillars support the roofline with the windows being recessed. The interior has an open couryard. The building houses the County Superior Court of Division II and County Justice Court – Precinct 1 (Nogales).
Old County Courthouse – Nogales
Location: 21 East Court Street / North Morley Avenue
Built: 1902 – 1903
Style: Classical Revival
Architect: Trost and Rust of Tucson
Contractor: James Vendervort and Roy & Titcomb Inc.
Description: The building faces west and is a two story rough faced native limestone structure. The building sits atop a steep slope on landscaped grounds in the center of Nogales. The west portico rises to the pediment at the roofline and is supported by for large stone columns. The second story windows are arched. A high white balustrade is situate above the white colored cornice. In the building center is a large dome with green colored roof and statue of Justice on the top. The interior has a central rotunda under the dome. The courtroom was located on the second story. The building now houses the Cowbells Museum and the Cochee College.
Note: During construction the contract with James Vendervort was transferred to Roy & Titcomb Inc.
See: National Register of Historic Places – Santa Cruz County Courthouse
See: Division II Tuscon includes Cochise County, Gila County, Graham County, Greenlee County, Pinal County
History: The county was created in 1899 and Nogales was selected as the county seat. The first courthouse was a building leased from George B Marsh. The second courthouse was constructed in 1902 to 1903 at a cost of $28,200 and $4761 for four jail cells. The third and present courthouse was constructed in 1987 to 1988.
County Courthouse – Nogales
Old County Courthouse – Nogales
Photos taken 2008