Burke County is names for Governor John Burke, who created the county by proclamation.
Surrounding County Courthouses:
N – Saskatchewan, Canada
E – Renville County and Ward County
S – Ward County and Mountrail County
W – Williams County and Divide County
Created: February 8, 1910
County Seat:
Bowbells 1910 – present
County Courthouse – Bowbells
Location: 103 Main Street Southeast / 1st Street Northeast
Built: 1927 – 1928
Style: Federal
Architect: Toltz, King & Day of St. Paul, Minnesota
Contractor: Olson & Orheim of Minot.
Description: The building faces north and is a three story dark red colored brick and concrete structure. The building is located on spacious landscaped grounds in the center of Bowbells. The building has a raised basement. The north front of the building has a protruding entrance extending up to the second story. There is stonework around the entrance doorway and stonework under each window. The roof line is flat. In the interior, the plaster is finished to resemble large blocks. The second-floor offices congregate around a central lobby, so that business is conducted over a counter rather than in rooms. The original porcelain water fountains, now non-functional, have been left in the hall. The County District Court courtroom is located at the northwest corner of the third story. The building houses the County District Court of the North Central Judicial District.
See: The architect, Toltz, King & Day of St. Paul, Minnesota designed many courthouses.
See: National Register of Historic Places – Burke County Courthouse
See: The North Central Judicial District includes Mountrail County and Ward County.
History: The county was created in 1910 and Bowbells was named as the county seat0. The first and present courthouse was constructed in 1927 to 1928.
County Courthouse – Bowbells
County District Court courtroom
Meeting Room
Photos taken 2006, 2011, 2016 and 2022
Images 21*