Indian River County | US Courthouses

Indian River County is named for the Indian River which is a long, narrow saltwater lagoon between the mainland and the barrier islands.

Surrounding County Courthouses:

N – Brevard County

E – Atlantic Ocean

S – St. Lucie County

W – Okeechobee County and Osceola County

Created: May 30, 1925

County Seat:

Vero Beach 1925 – present

County Courthouse – Vero Beach

Location: 2000 16th Avenue / 20th Street

Built: 1994 – 1997

Style: Modern

Architect: Pierce, Goodwin, Alexander & Linville ( PGAL )

Contractor: James A Cummings, Inc. of Fort Lauderdale

Description: The building faces west and is a three story limestone, concrete and glass structure. The building is located on landscaped grounds in the center of Vero Beach. The west entrance has a square portico supported by four black colored columns supporting a black colored stone header. Above the portico is a rounded section with green colored dome. The first story extends from the west front of the building. In the interior there is a central circular lobby with large columns. Open stairs ascend to the third story. The building has eight courtrooms located on the second and third stories. The building houses the Circuit Court of the 19th Judicial Circuit and County Court.

See: The architect, Pierce, Goodwin, Alexander & Linville ( PGAL ) designed courthouses in Louisiana in Saint Tammany Parish and in Texas in Collin County, Fort Bend County and Harris County.

Old County Courthouse – Vero Beach

Location: 2145 14th Avenue / 22nd Street

Built: 1936 – 1937

Style: Masonry Vernacular and Modern

Architect: W H Garns & Sons

Contractor: James T Vocelle and William Hensick & Son

Description: The building faces east and is a two story buff colored brick and concrete structure. The building is located on landscaped grounds in the center of Vero Beach. The building is an “H” shape. The east front has a central entrance on the first story. The roof line is flat. The former courtroom is located on the second story. An addition was added in 1957 on the south side. An addition was constructed on the north side in 1961. The architect was David V Robinson and the contractor was E M Netto. The building is now a residence.

See: National Register of Historic Places – Indian River County Courthouse

See: The 19th Judicial Circuit includes Martin County, Okeechobee County and St. Lucie County.

See: The county is located in the Fourth Judicial District of the Court of Appeal – Fourth Judicial District located in West Palm Beach.

History: The county was created in 1925 and Vero Beach was selected as the county seat. The county first met in a building on Fourteenth Avenue and 21st Street in the Seminole Building and in the Palmetto Hotel at Old Dixie Highway and 19th Street, which buildings are still standing. The first courthouse was constructed in 1936 to 1937 at a cost of $75,000. The second and present courthouse was constructed in 1994 to 1997 at a cost of $13,200,000.

County Administration Building – Vero Beach

Location: 1801 27th Street / 27th Avenue

Built: 2006 – 2007

Style: Modern

Architect: Donadio & Associates of Vero Beach and Song & Associates of Orlando

Contractor: Risk-Turner Construction Company

Description: The building faces north and is a two story stucco and concrete structure. The building is located on spacious landscaped grounds to the north of the center of Vero Beach. The north front has a projecting center section with three large arches, recessed doorway, balcony on the second story and large arched windows on the second story. The roof is hipped.

First County Courthouse – Vero Beach

Location: 1889 Old Dixie Highway / 19th Street

Built: 1921

Style: Classical / Art Deco

Architect: George Gray.

Contractor: George Gray.

Description: The building faces east and is a two story yellow colored stucco and concrete structure. The building is located on landscaped grounds in the center of Vero Beach. The building is “L” shaped with a rectangular section on the east side and a rectangular section on the north side joined at the northeast corner. The building was constructed as the Palmetto Hotel. The Seminole Building to the north at 1412 21st Street and 14th Avenue was used as a courthouse.