Osceola County - American Courthouses

Osceola County is named for the Osceola, who was the Native America leader in the Second Seminole War.

Surrounding County Courthouses:

N – Nobles County, Minnesota and Jackson County, Minnesota

E – Dickinson County

S – O’Brien County

W – Lyon County

Created: January 15, 1851

County Seat:

Sibley 1851 – present

County Courthouse – Sibley

Location: 300 7th Street / 3rd Avenue

Built: 1902 – 1903

Style: Neo-Classical

Architect: F W Kinney

Contractor: C E Atkinson.

Description: The building faces south and is a three story brownish stone structure. The building is located on spacious landscaped grounds in the center of Sibley. The building has a raised basement of course stone as the first story. The south front has a projecting one story center section with two columns and a recessed entrance. Above the second story windows are three circular windows. The east and west corners also project from the main building and have arched windows on the second story. The roof line is flat. In the interior at the center of the building is an oval opening with a brass railings is between the second and third stories. There are wood stairs, tile floors, wide friezes with medallions and murals painted by Odin J Oyen of La Crosse.. The County District Court courtroom is located along the west side of the third story. The building houses the County District Court of the 3B Judicial District. In 1925, the dome was removed. The building was remodeled in 1961.On the north side is the two story old Sheriff Residence and Jail.

See: Odin J Oyen of La Crosse, Wisconsin painted murals in the courthouses located in Michigan – Shiawassee County; Minnesota – Grant County; North Dakota – Cass County; South Dakota – Brown County and Yankton County; and Wisconsin – La Crosse County (demolished), Lafayette County, Langlade County and Manitowoc County.

See: National Register of Historic Places – Osceola County Courthouse

See: The 3A Judicial District includes Buena Vista County, Cherokee County, Clay County, Dickinson County, Emmet County, Kossuth County, Lyon County, O’Brien County and Palo Alto County.

History: The county was created in 1851 and not organized until 1872 when Sibley was selected as the county seat. The first courthouse was built by Henry Pfingsten in 1872 at a cost of $5,000. The second and present courthouse was constructed in 1901 to 1902 at a cost of $50,000.

Note: The highest point in Iowa is Hawkeye Point at 1,670 feet (510 meters) which is located in the county.