Mahaska County is named for Chief Mahaska, who was a chief of the Ioway Native American tribe.
Surrounding County Courthouses:
N – Jasper County and Poweshiek County
E – Keokuk County
S – Wapello County and Monroe County
W – Marion County
Created: February 17, 1843
County Seat:
Oskaloosa 1844 – present
County Courthouse – Oskaloosa
Location: 106 South 1st Street / High Avenue East
Built: 1882 – 1886
Style: Romanesque
Architect: H C Koch and Company of Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Contractor: O J King & Company
Description: The building faces west and is a three story red colored brick, stone and concrete structure. The building is located on landscaped grounds in the center of Oskaloosa opposite the City Square Park. The building has a stone foundation. The west front has a large stone arch around the first story entrance. Above rises a square brick tower which is tired having a square clock tower with spires at the top. The roof is hipped with peaked dormers with arched windows. Stone trim horizontal bands run along the building. In the interior is a large decorated lobby. The County District Court courtroom is located on the southeast side of the second story. There is a small courtroom located on the northeast side of the second story. The County Magistrate Court courtroom is on the southwest side of the third story. The building houses the County District Court of the 8A Judicial District and the County Magistrate Court. The building was renovated in 2024 by Excel Mechanical, Inc. and Finishing Touch Acoustical of Ottumwa.
Note: The architect, H C Koch and Company of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, designed courthouses in Jefferson County, Montgomery County and Webster County and in Marshall County, Kansas
See: The 8A Judicial District includes Appanoose County, Davis County, Jefferson County, Keokuk County, Monroe County, Poweshiek County, Van Buren County, Wapello County and Washington County.
History: The county was created in 1843 and Oskaloosa was selected as the county seat in 1844 when the county was organized. The first courthouse was built in 1844 to 1845. The second and present courthouse was constructed in 1882 to 1886 at a cost of $132,500.
County Courthouse – Oskaloosa
County District Court courtroom
County Magistrate Court courtroom
Photos taken 2008 and 2024
Images 17*