Dane County is named for Nathan Dane, who was a Massachusetts delegate to the Congress of the Confederation and who helped carve Wisconsin out of the Northwest Territory.
Surrounding County Courthouses:
N – Sauk County and Columbia County
E – Dodge County and Jefferson County
S – Rock County and Green County
W – Iowa County and Sauk County
Created: December 7, 1836 
County Seat:
Madison 1839 – present
County Courthouse – Madison
Location: 215 South Hamilton Street / Wilson Street
Built: 2003 – 2005
Style: Modern
Architect: Durrant Architects
Contractor: Miron Construction Company Inc.
Description: The building faces west and is a ten story brick, stone, concrete and glass structure. The building is located in the center of Madison. The building forms a triangle with small square windows. The first story has columns with a recessed glass wall. On the upper section is a large glass wall. The roof is flat. The building houses the County Circuit Court of the 4th Judicial Circuit.
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Old County Courthouse – Madison
Location: 210 Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard / Doty Street
Built: 1955 – 1957
Style: Modern
Architect: Holabird, Root and Burgee of Chicago and Law, Law, Potter and Nystrom of Madison
Contractor: B Perni and Sons Inc. of Framingham, Massachusetts
Description: The building faces north and is a seven story concrete and glass structure. Ther building is located in the center of Madison. The north front has a projecting center section with glass doors and cemet grill work on the second level. The roof line is flat. The building servered as a courthouse until 2005 and now serves as the Madisin City Hall.
See: The 5th Judicial District includes Columbia County, Green County, Lafayette County, Rock County and Sauk County.
History: The county was created in 1836 and Madison was selected as the county seat. The court met at different locations. The first courthouse was built in 1849 to 1851 at a cost of $12,000. The second courthouse was a three story structure designed by Henry Koch and constructed by D Stevens in 1883 to 1886 at a cost of $180,000. The third courthouse was constructed in 1955 to 1957. The fourth and present courthouse was constructed in 2003 to 2005.
See: The Wisconsin Supreme Court is located in the county.
Court of Appeals – Division IV
Location: 2921 Landmark Place
Built: Unknown
Style: Modern Commercial
Architect: Ghidorzi
Contractor: Unknown
Description: The building faces north and is a five story glass and concrete structure. The building is located on landscaped grounds to the sothwest of the center of Madison. The building houses the Court of Appeals Fourth Division at suite 415 on the fourth story.
County Courthouse – Madison
Old County Courthouse – Madison
Photos taken 2008 and 2015