Sargent County is named for H E Sargent, general manager of the Northern Pacific Railroad and who was interested in the development of the agricultural interests of the Red River Valley.
Surrounding County Courthouses:
N – Ransom County
E – Richland County
S – Marshall County, South Dakota
W – Dickey County
Created: April 9, 1873
County Seat:
Milnor 1883 – 1884
Forman 1884 – present
County Courthouse – Forman
Location: 355 Main Street South / Court Street
Built: 1910 – 1911
Style: Classical Revival and Beaux Arts
Architect: Buechner & Orth of St. Paul, Minnesota
Contractor: A C Thomas
Description: The building faces east and is a three story buff colored brick and concrete structure. The building is located on landscaped grounds in the center of Forman. The building has a raised basement and a projecting east portico with two large columns rising to the pediment at the roof line. The base of the building is brown colored brick. Rectangular windows throughout have sandstone sills and second floor windows have sandstone heads. The area between windows of the second and third floors is embellished with rectangular and lozenge-shaped corbeling. The building has an octagonal dome at the center and flat roof line. In the interior, the dome has four separate paintings depicting various themes of the county. In 1997 the renowned artist Del Iron was commissioned to recreate the murals. The skylight of geometric stained glass is naturally illuminated. Pink terrazzo and pink marble floors remain on the first story and the main entry area. The County District Court courtroom is located at the southwest corner of the third story where a county seal mural remains over the judge’s bench. The building houses the County District Court of the Southeast Judicial District. In 1998, an addition was constructed on the west side. The architect was Les Bjore of Battle Lake, Minnesota.
See: The architect Buechner & Orth of St. Paul, Minnesota designed many courthouses. The courthouse in Mountrail County was modeled after this courthouse.
See: National: Register of Historic Places – Sargent County Courthouse
See: The Southeast Judicial District includes Barnes County, Dickey County, Eddy County, Foster County, Griggs County, Kidder County, LaMoure County, Logan County, McIntosh County, Ransom County, Richland County, Stutsman County and Wells County.
Old County Courthouse – Forman
Location: 309 Main Street / Maple Avenue
Built: 1884
Style: Commercial
Architect: Unknown
Contractor: Unknown
Description: The building faces east and is a two story red colored brick and concrete structure. The rectangular shaped building is located in the center of Forman to the north of the courthouse. Known as the Groff Building the first story has commercial businesses along the east side. The roof line is flat. The County District Court courtroom was located on the second story. The building served as the first courthouse until 1888.
History: The county was created in 1883 and Milnor was designated as the county seat. In 1884 the county seat was moved to Forman and the first courthouse was the Groff Building where the county occupied the second story. The building is still standing. The second courthouse was a two story rectangular shaped brick structure built on the site of the present City Hall in 1888. The building was demolished in 1947. The third and present courthouse was constructed in 1910 to 1911.
County Courthouse – Forman
County District Court courtroom
Old County Courthouse – Forman
Photos taken 2006, 2009, 2018 and 2024
Images 23*