Merrick County - American Courthouses

Merrick County is named for Elvira Merrick, who was the wife of Henry W DePuy, a territorial legislator.

Surrounding County Courthouses:

N – Nance County and Platte County

E – Polk County and Hamilton County

S – Hamilton County

W – Hall County and Howard County

Created: November 4, 1858

County Seat:

Elvira 1858 – 1869

Central City 1869 – present

County Courthouse – Central City

Location: 1510 18th Street / 15th Avenue

Built: 1913 – 1914

Style: Classical Revival

Architect: William F Gernandt of Omaha

Contractor: H Elenberger & Company of Chicago, Illinois

Description: The building faces west and is a three story buff colored brick, stone and concrete structure. The building is located on landscaped grounds in the center of Central City. The building has a raised limestone and granite basement as the first story. The north central section projects and has two limestone columns rising from the second story to the top of the third story with a pediment above. The east and west sides of the front have a columns and the corner sections rise to a small pediment. The roof line of the main section is flat. In the interior, the central hallway on the first story is cross-shaped. East and west halls are short stubs. On the north is a large vestibule separated from the hall by double doors, and on the south are stairs to the upper stories and down to the south door. The original metal light fixture hangs from the center of the main hall and has eight globes. Grey mottled marble is used for wainscoting and stair treads, dark wood for counters, transoms, office doors with a single pane, large top and side lights for some doors, and beveled glass for the double entry doors. Other features include hexagonal floor tile with a regularly spaced pattern in b1ack, tan, rust, and ocher and a border pattern. The former County District Court courtroom is located on the east side of the third story, and is now the Board of Supervisors Meeting Room. The courtroom used to have a small gallery located on the partial top floor but is now used for storage. The building houses the District Court and County Court of the 5th Judicial District. On the east side is a one story addition of white colored stone constructed in 2005 to 2006. The combined County District Court and County Court courtroom is located on the east side of the first story of the addition. The architect was Carlson West Provonda Architects of Omaha and the contractor was Central Contracting Corporation of Kearney.

See: The architect, William F Gernandt of Omaha, designed courthouses in Clay County, Dawson County, Pawnee County, Phelps County, Polk County, Richardson County, Sarpy County, Valley County and Webster County.

Note: Merrick County is the only Nebraska County named for a woman, Elvia Merrick. The act establishing the county called for the county seat to be located at Elvira, a town which never materialized.

See: National Register of Historic Places – Merrick County Courthouse

See: The 5th Judicial District includes Boone County, Butler County, Colfax County, Hamilton County, Nance County, Platte County, Polk County, Saunders County, Seward County and York County.

History: The county was created in 1857 and Elvira was designated as the county seat in 1863 when the county was organized. The county seat was moved to Central City in 1869. The first courthouse, a two-story brick building on the courthouse square, was built by Charles Lightfoot in i87I. By 1909 all its walls were badly cracked. The second courthouse was constructed in 1912 to 1915 at a cost of $100,000.