Dolores County is named for the Dolores River, which was named by the Spanish as “Rio de Nuestra Senora de los Dolores” which means “River of our lady of Sorrows”.
Surrounding County Courthouses:
E – San Juan County
S – Montezuma County
W – San Juan County, Utah
Created: February 19, 1881 
County Seat:
Rico 1881 – 1945
Dove Creek 1945 – present
County Courthouse – Dove Creek
Location: 409 North Main Street / East 4th Street
Built: 1952 – 1953
Style: Modern
Architect: C Francis Pillsbury
Contractor: Burl F Crone and J Clarence Ritchey
Description: The building faces west and is a two story buff colored brick and concrete structure. The rectangular shaped building is located on landscaped grounds in the center of Dove Creek. The entrance in the center is glass with glass panel on the second story above. The south section is two stories with large windows and the north section is two stories and rises higher. The roof line is flat with projecting eaves. The building houses the District Court and County Court of the 22nd Judicial District.
Old County Courthouse - Rico
Location: 2 North Commercial Street / Martz Street
Built: 1891 – 1892
Style: Victorian
Architect: John James Huddart
Contractor: Charles H Carpenter
Description: The building faces west and is a two story brick and wood structure. The building is located on landscaped grounds in the center of Rico. The west front has a projecting central tower with arched entrance on the first story. The building has a raised basement. The roof is hipped with dormers and two peaks with north and south gable ends. The building now serves as the City Hall and Public Library.
Old County Courthouse – Dove Creek
Location: 101 Main Street / Highway 491
Built: 1912
Style: Residence
Architect: Unknown
Contractor: Unknown
Description: The building faces east and is a two story wood frame structure. The building is located on landscaped grounds on the south side of the center of Dove Creek. The east front has a two story porch. The metal roof is hipped with attic and two dormer windows. The house was converted in 1945 into the courthouse and served until 1952.
See: The 22nd Judicial District includes Montezuma County.
History: The county was created in 1881 and Rico was selected as the county seat. The first courthouse was built in 1891. The county seat was moved to Dove Creek in 1945. The second courthouse was a converted two story wood frame house built in 1912 located at 101 Main Street. The third and present courthouse was constructed in 1952 to 1953.
County Courthouse – Dove Creek
Photos taken 2011