Polk County is named for James Knox Polk, who was the eleventh President of the United States of America.
Surrounding County Courthouses:
N – Yamhill County
E – Marion County
S – Linn County and Benton County
W – Lincoln County and Tillamook County
Created: December 22, 1845
County Seat:
Cynthian 1845 – 1851
Dallas 1851 – present
County Courthouse – Dallas
Location: 850 Main Street / SE Court Street
Built: 1898 – 1899
Style: Romanesque
Architect: Delod D Neer of Portland
Contractor: Delod D Neer of Portland
Description: The building faces west and is is a two story limestone and concrete structure. The building is located on spacious landscaped grounds in the center of Dallas. The building has a projecting center section with arched entrances on the north and south sides. On the north is a high square clock tower with red colored sloped roof. There is a wide eave along the sloped red colored roof. In the interior, the County Circuit Court courtroom has wood trim and a decorated ceiling. The building houses the County Circuit Court of the 12th Judicial District. On the east side is a three story annex constructed in 1965 to 1966. The contractor was Robert D Morrow. The building was expanded in 1989. The County Jail Building, built in 1999 is located across the street from the annex.
See: The architect Delos D Neer of Portland also designed the courthouses in Baker County and Benton County.
History: The county was created in 1845 and Cynthian was selected as the county seat. The first courthouse was built in Cynthian in 1851. The county seat was moved to Dallas in 1851 and the first courthouse was dismantled. The second courthouse was a wood structure built in Dallas in 1852 and which was destroyed by fire in 1898. The third and present courthouse was constructed in 1898 to 1900.
County Courthouse – Dallas
Photos taken 2012 and 2016
Images 12