Scotts Bluff County - American Courthouses

Scotts Bluff County is named for a local bluff known as Scott’s Bluff which was a noted landmark by the side of the Platte River Valley and named after Hiram Scott who perished at its foot.

Surrounding County Courthouses:

N – Sioux County and Box Butte County

E – Morrill County

S – Banner County

W – Goshen County, Wyoming

Created: November 6, 1888

County Seat:

Gering 1888 – present

County Courthouse – Gering

Location: 1725 10th Street / R Street

Built: 1920 – 1921

Style: Classical Revival

Architect: William N Bowman of Denver, Colorado

Contractor: C E Goodhand of Ord

Description: The building faces east and is a three story buff colored brick and concrete structure. The rectangular shaped building is located on landscaped grounds in the center of Gering. The building has a raised basement. The east front of the building has a large portico supported by six large Tuscan limestone columns rising to a wide header above the third story. A notable parapet has an openwork grill with a starburst pattern and an attractive round clock centered above the entrance. The first story entrance is recessed with an arched frame and small balcony above. The rear or west façade also has an entrance and continues the materials and ornamentation of the other facades. The roof line is flat. In the interior, stairs rise to the first story. Original interior features include the woodwork, white colored hexagonal floor tile (with a border of dark and light grey, dark and light green), white colored marble wainscoting, and attractive metal stair railings having an open geometric pattern. The central hallway on the first story is cross-shaped and open at the center with a light-well rising from the first story to third story with skylight above. Some of the office space has been converted into courtrooms. There are two County District courtrooms on the third story located at the northwest and southwest corners. There are two County Court courtrooms on the second story located at the northwest and southwest corners. The building houses the County District Court and County Court of the 12th Judicial District. The building was renovated in 1980. The architect was Hinde & Nelson Architects, Inc. of North Platte and the contractor was Cillesson Construction Company of Golden, Colorado.

See: The architect, William N Bowman of Denver, Colorado, designed courthouses in Colorado in Jackson County, Moffat County, Montrose County and Weld County.

See: National Register of Historic Places – Scotts Bluff County Courthouse

See: The 12th Judicial District includes Banner County, Box Butte County, Cheyenne County, Dawes County, Deuel County, Garden County, Grant County, Kimball County, Morrill County, Sheridan County and Sioux County.

History: The county was created in 1888 and Gering was selected as the county seat in 1889. The first courthouse was a two story structure built by Edward W Sayre in 1891. The second and present courthouse was constructed in 1920 to 1921 at a cost of $204,534.

County Administrative Offices Building – Gering

Location: 1825 10th Street / S Street

Built: 1977 – 1978

Style: Modern

Architect: Boyer Biskup Bonge & Associates of Omaha

Contractor: Boyer Biskup Bonge & Associates of Omaha

Description: The building faces east and is a two story red colored brick and concrete structure. The building is located on landscaped grounds in the center of Gering on the north side of the courthouse. The east front has a recessed glass entrance. The recessed windows are horizontal. The roof line is flat.