Hall County - American Courthouses

Hall County is named for Augustus Hall, who was the Chief Justice of the Territorial Supreme Court at the time the county was created.

Surrounding County Courthouses:

N – Howard County

E – Merrick County and Hamilton County

S – Adams County

W – Buffalo County

Created: November 4,1858

County Seat:

Grand Island 1859 – present

County Courthouse – Grand Island

Location: 111 West 1st Street / South Locust Street

Built: 1902 – 1904

Style: Beaux Arts

Architect: Thomas Rogers Kimball of Omaha

Contractor: Henry Faldorf and Otto Kirschke of Grand Island

Description: The building faces northwest and is a two story dark red colored brick and stone structure. The rectangular shaped building is located on landscaped grounds in the center of Grand Island. The north front of the building has wide stone steps ascending to the second story and in the middle, entering the first story. Executed in limestone with brick accents on the third level, the entrance pavilion is detailed with arched openings on the main level, four sets of coupled columns framing a third level balcony and an enlivened cornice accented on the corners with anthemion and in the center with clock surrounded by a broken pediment. The base of the building is horizontal white colored stone. Stone trims the building corners and below the second story windows and along the roof line. In the center of the roof rises a tall green colored spire with dome and smaller dome at the top. In the interior is the rotunda, entrance to which is gained through the vestibule. The wide rotunda has a plaster cast domed ceiling detailed with classical motifs, and is lighted by a central skylight. Opposite the main entrance is the iron stairway. On the third story, the two County District Court courtroom are located on the west side. On the second story are two County Court courtrooms. On the first story is a third County District Court courtroom and a third County Court courtroom. The building houses the District Court and County Court of the 9th Judicial District. The courthouse is modeled after the first courthouse. In 2024 to 2027 an addition was constructed on the south side adding three more courtrooms. The architect was Davis Design Partners and the contractor was Chief Construction. On the south side is the County Courthouse Annex housing the County Juvenile Court courtroom and the County Sheriff’s Department.

Note: In 1977 a contract of $2,000,000 was awarded for building a new jail and offices for the Sheriff and the Grand Island Police Department on the south side of the courthouse. In 1978 the project was completed and the Grand Island Police Department and the Hall County Sheriff’s Department made the move. The new and old jails were connected and are still in use today.

See: National Register of Historic Places – Hall County Courthouse

See: The 9th Judicial District includes Buffalo County.

History: The county was created in 1858 and Grand Island was selected as the county seat. The county rented premises until the first courthouse, a two story brick structure was built by Christian Anderson, D Plumster and James Tout in 1872 to 1873 at a cost of $15,750. The second and present courthouse was constructed in 1902 to 1904 at a cost of $121,142 which included construction of the jail for $11,418.

County Administration Building – Grand Island

Location: 121 South Pine Street / East 1st Street

Built: 1979 – 1980

Style: Modern

Architect: Richard F Willis and Associates, Inc.

Contractor: Lacy Building & Supplies Company

Description: The building faces northwest and is a two story red colored brick and concrete structure. The building is located on landscaped grounds on the east side of the courthouse. The central north entrance is recessed with glass panels. Along the sides are vertical dividers with recessed windows. The roof is sloped.