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Linn County

 

Linn County is named for Lewis Fields Linn, who was a doctor and a United States Senator from Missouri.

 

Surrounding County Courthouses: 

N – Buchanan County and Delaware County 

E – Jones County and Cedar County

S – Johnson County

W – Benton County

 

Map of Iowa highlighting Linn County

Created:  December 21, 1837                

County Seat:

Marion             1839 – 1919

Cedar Rapids  1919 – present

 

County Courthouse – Cedar Rapids

 

Location:  50 3rd Avenue Bridge ( Mays Island )

Built:  1923 – 1925

Style:  Roman and Greek

Architect:  Joseph W Royer and James A Wetmore

Contractor:  Madsen & Peterson

 

Description: The building faces northwest and  is a four story Bedford limestone and concrete structure. The building is located on landscaped grounds on Mays Island in the center of Cedar Rapids with the Cedar River on either side. The building has limestone on a granite foundation. The building consists of a main block with two short wings, all parapetted, the whole presenting a massive, earthbound appearance. Appropriate classical elements are found in the full entablature and in the protruding entrance porch. The latter features ten freestanding, fluted Ionic columns which support the entablature and parapet. The two stories of windows are separated by decorative stone panels. Additional detail is found in the stone balustrade around the terrace, and the small balconies on the windows flanking the entrance pavilion. The sides and rear of the courthouse are much simpler in execution, although the cornice is carried round to the rear corners. The roof line is flat. The interior features a central, three story rectangular shaped rotunda, with rooms opening onto corridors which ring the open area. There is a skylight at the roof level. There are posts and walls made of travertine and marble floors. The building contains thirteen courtrooms. The large County District Court courtroom is located on the northeast side of the fourth story and features a curved ceiling with skylights. The building houses the County District Court of the 6th Judicial District.  The building was rededicated in 1975, and the building was reconstructed from 2010 to 2012 after a flood in 2008. The contractor was Unzeitig Construction of Cedar Rapids. On the south side of the building is the County Jail.

 

See:  The architect Joseph W Royer of Urbana, Illinois designed courthouses in Illinois in Bureau CountyChampaign CountyClay County, Douglas County, Ford CountyGrundy CountyMarion County, Piatt County and Richland Countyin Wisconsin in Douglas County.

 

See:  The 6th Judicial District includes Benton County, Iowa CountyJohnson CountyJones County and Tama County.

 

History:  The county was created in 1837 and Marion was selected as the county seat in 1839. The first courthouse was a two story brick structure built in Marion in 1842 at a cost of $40,000. The second courthouse was designed by George W Gray and constructed in Marion in 1855. The county seat was moved to Cedar Rapids in 1919. The third and present courthouse was constructed in 1929 to 1933 at a cost 0f $1,300,000. The cost of reconstruction in 2010 to 2012 was $8,544,413.

 

 

County Courthouse – Cedar Rapids

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

County District Court courtroom

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

County District Court courtroom

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Photos taken 2008 and 2024

Images 27*