Nevada County is named for the Spanish word meaning “snowfall”.
Surrounding County Courthouses:
N – Sierra County
E – Washoe County, Nevada
S – Placer County
W – Yuba County
Created: May 18, 1851 
County Seat:
Nevada City 1851 – present
County Courthouse – Nevada City
Location: 201 Church Street / North Pine Street
Built: 1936 – 1937
Style: Art Deco
Architect: George C Sellon of Sacramento
Contractor: Linndren & Swinerton Inc
Description: The building faces southeast and is a four story concrete and glass structure. The building is located in the center of Nevada City. The building has a central tower with lower wings. The southeast front has a central entrance with three high vertical concrete dividers with glass panels between. At the top is a clock. On the east and west sides of the front are one story wings with curved glass windows. The roof line is flat. The building houses the County Superior Court. During construction, the supervisor was Robert Steger. On the east side is the Courthouse Annex constructed in 1964. The architect was Mau & Barnum.
See: George C Sellon of Sacramento designed courthouses in Amador County, Lassen County, Plumas County, Sierra County and Tehama County.
See: The county is located in the 3rd Appellate District Court of Appeal – Sacramento.
History: The county was created in 1851 and Nevada City was selected as the county seat. The first courthouse was a log structure built on Broad Street in 1851. The second courthouse was built in 1856. The courthouse burned in the same year 1856 and was rebuilt as a two story granite and brick Greek Revival structure, as the third courthouse The courthouse burned in 1863 and some of the bricks were used in the Masonic Hall. Rebuilt in 1864, the building was the fourth courthouse. In 1900, a third story was added. The fifth and present courthouse is a remodel of the 1864 courthouse with new façade added.
County Administration – Nevada City
Location: 950 Maidu Avenue / Highwat 48
Built: 1985 – 1986
Style: Modern
Architect: Williams & Paddon, Inc.
Contractor: J R Roberts, Inc.
Description: The building faces south and is a two story concrete and glass structure. The building is located on landscaped grounds to the nortwest of the center of Nevada City. The south front has a large projecting section with peaked roof and glass paneled wall with entrance on the first story. There are vertical pillars along the exterior walls with a wide horizontal division between the first and second stories. The sloped roof overhangs the building.
County Courthouse – Nevada City
County Administration – Nevada City
Photos taken 2013