Otero County is named for Michael A Otero, territorial representative to Congress from 1856 to 1861.
Surrounding County Courthouses:
N – Lincoln County
E – Chaves County and Eddy County
S – Culberson County, Texas, Hudspeth County, Texas and El Paso County, Texas
W – Dona Ana County and Sierra County
Created: January 30, 1899
County Seat:
Alamogordo 1899 – present
County Courthouse – Alamogordo
Location: 1000 New York Avenue / 10th Street
Built: 1954 – 1955
Style: Modern
Architect: Wolgamood and Millington
Contractor: Frank Tatsch
Description: The building faces west and is a two story red colored brick and concrete structure. The building is located on landscaped grounds in the center of the city. On the west front are two square columns framing the recessed entrance. There are one story wings on the northwest and on the southwest corners. The Jail was constructed in 1975 as part of the complex. The architect was Charles E Nolan Jr. & Associates and the contractor was H T Coker Construction Company.The building was expanded in 1986 to 1988. The architect was Sam Pool. The building was remodeled in 2009. The architect was AA Architects and the contractor was White Sands Construction of Alamogordo
History: The county was created in 1899 and Alamogordo was selected as the county seat. The first courthouse was designed by F H Paradice and built by S E Pelphney in 1901. The second and present courthouse was constructed in 1954 to 1955.
See: The 12th Judicial District includes Lincoln County.
County Administration Building – Alamogordo
Location: 1101 New York Avenue / 11th Street
Built: 1937 – 1938
Style: Spanish-Pueblo Revival
Architect: Underwood, Gilbert, Stanley of Los Angeles, California
Contractor: J J Firtch of Dallas, Texas.
Description: The building faces east and is a two story cream colored stucco and concrete structure. The building is located on landscaped grounds in the center of the city. The east front has three large arches on the first story with recessed entrance with a large mural on each side. The walls have the rounded edges; the squared, stepped masses; the parapets; the projecting vigas; the canales; the recessed windows with squared timber lintels and wooden mullions; and the carved wooden doors with recessed detailing. The roof line is flat. The building was originally the post office.
County Courthouse – Alamogordo
Cornerstone 1901 Courthouse
County Administration Building – Alamogordo
Photos taken 2007 and 2019
Images 23