Van Buren County - American Courthouses

Van Buren County is named for Martin Van Buren, who was President of the United States of America.

Surrounding County Courthouses:

N – Jefferson County

E – Henry County and Lee County

S – Clark County , Missouri and Scotland County, Missouri

W – Davis County

Created: December 7, 1836

County Seat:

Farmington 1837 – 1838

Keosauqua 1838 – present

County Courthouse – Keosauqua

Location: 406 Dodge Street / Broadway Street

Built: 1840 – 1843

Style: Greek Revival

Architect: John Fairman and James Hall

Contractor: John Fairman and James Hall / Edwin Manning

Description: The building faces southeast and is a two story light red colored brick structure. The building is located on landscaped grounds in the center of Keosauqua with the Courthouse Annex along the north side and the County Administration Building along the south side. One foot square oak timbers support the floor. The roof eaves extend out from the building. The windows have stone headers and lentils and the timbers and trusses are oak. The roof is hipped. In the interior, the first story hallway runs southeast to northwest with wood stairs ascending to the second story on the northwest side and is finished in walnut. The courtroom occupies the whole second story. The interior was renovated 1983 and 1997.

See: National Register of Historic Places – Van Buren County Courthouse

Note: The present courthouse is the oldest courthouse in Iowa. The building contact was awarded to John Fairman and James Hall but they apparently failed in this regard and the contract was re-awarded to Edwin Manning, who finished the courthouse in 1843.

County Courthouse Annex – Keosauqua

Location: 406 Dodge Street / Broadway Street

Built: 1992 – 1993

Style: Modern

Architect: Unknown

Contractor: Unknown

Description: The building faces southeast and is a one story light red colored brick and concrete structure. The building is located on landscaped grounds in the center of Keosauqua with the old courthouse along the south side. The roof is hipped. In the interior is an entrance foyer with the County District Court courtroom occupying the northwest side. The building houses the County District Court of the 8A Judicial District. Attached to the building is the Sheriff’s Office on the northeast side.

See: The 8A Judicial District includes Appanoose County, Davis County, Jefferson County, Keokuk County, Mahaska County, Monroe County, Poweshiek County, Wapello County and Washington County.

History: The county was created in 1836 and Farmington was designated as the county seat in 1837. The county seat was moved to Keosauqua in 1838. The first and present courthouse was constructed in 1840 to 1843.

County Administration Building – Keosauqua

Location: 406 Dodge Street / Broadway Street

Built: 1895 – 1896

Style: Federal / Modern

Architect: Unknown

Contractor: Unknown

Description: The building faces southeast and is a two story light red colored brick structure. The building is located on landscaped grounds in the center of Keosauqua with the old courthouse along the north side. In the interior, The County Magistrate Court courtroom is located on the northeast side of the first story of the addition. The building was expanded in 1979 with an addition constructed on the northwest side.