Ramsey County - American Courthouses

Ramsey County is named after Alexander Ramsey, who was the first Governor of the Minnesota Territory in 1849.

Surrounding County Courthouses:

N – Anoka County

E – Washington County

S – Dakota County

W – Hennepin County and Anoka County

Created: October 27, 1849

County Seat:

Saint Paul 1849 – present

County Courthouse – Saint Paul

Location: 15 Kellogg Boulevard West / Wabasha Street

Built: 1930 – 1932

Style: Art Deco “Skyscraper Style”

Architect: Thomas Ellerbe & Company of Saint Paul and Holabird & Root of Chicago, Illinois

Contractor: Foley Brothers

Description: The building faces south and is an eighteen story structure. The building is located in the center of Saint Paul. Each of the eighteen floors is finished in a different wood from around the world, and features 23 kinds of wood from 18 counties and marbles from all over the world. Paintings in the Council Chamber depict pioneer days and modern Saint Paul. A 36 foot high onyx statue the “Indian God of Peace” dominates the marble concourse. The building houses the County District Court of the 2nd Judicial District. The building also houses the Saint Paul City Hall. To the east is the County Government Center East..

See: National Register of Historic Places – Ramsay County Courthouse / City Hall

County Juvenile and Family Justice Center – Saint Paul

Location: 25 West 7th Street / St Peter Street

Built: 1998 – 2000

Style: Modern

Architect: Wold Architects of Minneapolis

Contractor: Sheehy Construction Company of Saint Paul

Description: The building faces south and is a four story buff colored brick, glass and concrete structure. The building is located in the center of Saint Paul. The entrance is located at the southwest corner with a recessed glass section. The roof line is flat. The north section of the building was an existing structure and the south section was added. The building houses the County District Court of the 2nd Judicial District.

History: The county was created in 1849 and Saint Paul was designated as the county seat. The first courthouse was a small two story brick Greek Revival structure designed by Dr. David Gray and built at a cost of $9,000. The second courthouse was a Kasota stone structure designed by Edward P Bassford and built in 1885 at a cost of $600,000. The third and present courthouse was constructed in 1930 to 1932 at a cost of $4,000,000. The County Juvenile and Family Justice Center was constructed in 1998 to 2000.

See: The Minnesota Supreme Court and Court of Appeals is located in the county.