Chelan County | US Courthouses

Chelan County is named for a Native American word meaning “deep water” and also for Lake Chelan.

Surrounding County Courthouses:

N – Skagit County and Okangon County

E – Douglas County

S – Kittitas County

W – King County, Snohomish County and Skagit County

Created: March 13, 1899

County Seat:

Wenatchee 1899 – present

County Courthouse – Wenatchee

Location: 350 Orondo Avenue / Washington Street

Built: 1924 – 1925

Style: Neo-Classical

Architect: Morrison-Stimson-Solberg

Contractor: Jarl & Lasker

Description: The building faces northeast and is a four story buff colored brick, stone and concrete structure. The rectangular shaped building is located on landscaped grounds in the center of Wenatchee. The building has a horizontal stone first story and sits on the side of a gentle rise. The northeast front has a central entrance and is framed with stone. The third story windows are arched. The roof line is flat. The building is connected by a skywalk to the County Law and Justice Facility on the northwest side. In the interior are marble stairs and walls. The main staircase is located at the center of the southwest side of the building. The two County District Court courtrooms are located at the northwest and southeast sides of the third story. The building houses the County District Court.

County Law and Justice Facility – Wenatchee

Location: 350 Orondo Avenue / Washington Street

Built: 1982 – 1983

Style: Modern

Architect: Fraley, Leighton & Associates

Contractor: Voth Brothers Construction

Description: The building faces southeast and is a six story buff brick and concrete structure. The rectangular shaped building is located on landscaped grounds in the center of Wenatchee and is connected to the courthouse on the southeast by a skywalk. There are narrow horizontal windows and a wide horizontal band of concrete running below the flat roof line. In the interior, the walls have murals. The County Superior Court courtrooms are located on the fifth story along the northeast side of the building.

County Juvenile Justice Center – Wenatchee

Location: 318 Washington Street / Orondo Avenue

Built: 1997 – 1998

Style: Modern

Architect: KMD Architects

Contractor: Heritage Construction Company

Description: The building faces northeast and is a one story multi colored brick and concrete structure. The building is located on landscaped grounds in the center of Wenatchee on the west side of the courthouse. The entrance is located at the north corner with a projecting section and circle window. On the south side is a large glass section. The south side has a two story section. The roof line is flat. The project manager was Robert Knowles Architects.

First County Courthouse – Wenatchee

Location: 238 South Wenatchee Street / Kittitas Street

Built: 1893

Style: Modern Commercial

Architect: Unknown

Contractor: Unknown

Description: The building faces southeast and is a one-story, commercial building. The building is all that remains of the original brick walls of the two story Clark Hotel that was built on this site. The building became the first county courthouse in 1899 until 1924. Alterations in 1939 resulted in the existing one story building with Streamline Moderne style elements. The structure was altered to serve as a service station and commercial business..

See: The Judicial District includes Douglas County.

History: The county was created in 1899 and Wenatchee was selected as the county seat. The first courthouse was the vacant brick Clark Hotel built by the Wenatchee Development Company in 1893 at the corner of Wenatchee Avenue and Kittitas Street. The second and present courthouse was constructed in 1923 to 1924. The County Law and Justice Facility was construcred in 1981 to 1983. The County Juvenile Justice Center was constructed in 1997 to 1998.