Tehama County is named for Tehama, who were a local Native American tribe.
Surrounding County Courthouses:
N – Shasta County
E – Plumas County and Butte County
S – Butte County and Glenn County
W – Mendocino County and Trinity County
Created: April 9, 1856 
County Seat:
Tehama 1856 – 1857
Red Bluff 1857 – present
Old County Courthouse – Red Bluff
Location: 633 Washington Street / Oak Street
Built: 1920 – 1922
Style: Classical Revival
Architect: George C Sellon & Company of Sacramento
Contractor: Mathews Construction Company
Description: The building faces northeast and is a two story red colored brick and stone style structure. The building is located on landscaped grounds in the center of the city. The east front has a large porch with eight columns rising to a wide header. The recessed entrance has a small pediment above the door. On the north and west sides of the courthouse is the County Courthouse Annex consisting of two story red colored brick and concrete structures constructed from 1978 to 1980. The architect was Raymond L Birge & Associates and the contractor was William D Johnson Company, Inc. On the west side is the County Jail which was constructed in 1976 to 1977. The architect was Raymond L Birge & Associates and the contractor was Welch Construction, Inc. In 1994, the building was remodeled and expanded. The architect was Lionakis-Beaumont Design Group and the contractor was Donald F Gallino, Inc.
See: George C Sellon of Sacramento designed courthouses in Amador County, Lassen County, Nevada County, Plumas County and Sierra County.
See: The county is located in the 3rd Appellate District Court of Appeal – Sacramento.
Note: The first courthouse was a two story structure designed by B C Nusbaum and built by Virgil Baker in 1860. An addition was built in 1880.
County Courthouse – Red Bluff
Location: 740 Walnut Street / Hook Road
Built: 2014 – 2016
Style: Modern
Architect: LPAS Architects
Contractor: Rudolph and Sletten, Inc.
Description: The building faces southwest and is a two story red colored brick and glass structure. The building is located on landscaped grounds to the southwest of the center of the city. The southwest front Has vertical dividers with recessed glass walls. The roof line is flat.
History: The county was created in 1856 and Tehama was selected as the county seat. The county officials first met in rented rooms in the Union Hotel at the corner of D Street and 2nd Street, later called Heider House. The Heider House was destroyed by fire in 1908. The first courthouse was a two story structure designed by B C Nusbaum and built by Virgil Baker in 1860. An addition was built in 1880. The second courthouse was constructed in 1920 to 1922. The Courthouse Annex – Courts Building was constructed in 1978 to 1980. The third and present courthouse was constructed in 2014 to 2016 at a cost of $56,000,000.
Old County Courthouse – Red Bluff
Picture courtsey of Tehama County
County Courthouse Annex / Courts Building – Red Bluff
County Jail
Pictures taken 2013
Images 15