Iron County is named for the iron discovered in the region in 1846.
Surrounding County Courthouses:
N – Lake Superior, Ontario, Ontario and Gogebic County, Michigan
E – Gogebic County, Michigan and Vilas County
S – Vilas County and Price County
W – Ashland County
Created: March 1, 1893
County Seat:
Hurley 1893 – present
County Courthouse – Hurley
Location: 300 Taconite Street / 2nd Avenue South
Built: 1974 – 1975
Style: Modern
Architect: Nelson & Jorgensen
Contractor: Nasi Construction Company of Hurley
Description: The building faces east and is a two story red-brown colored limestone and concrete structure. The building is located on spacious landscaped grounds on the south side of the center of Hurley. The building is constructed with many square block corners. The main entrance is along the east side and has a triangular portico supported by an iron pillar. There are narrow vertical windows. In the interior there is a courtroom. The building houses the County Circuit Court of the 9th Judicial District. The building was expanded in 2001 to 2002. The contractor was Wayne Wasi Construction Inc.
Old County Courthouse – Hurley
Location: 303 Iron Street / 3rd Avenue South
Built: 1892 – 1893
Style: Richardsonian Romanesque
Architect: L H Ruggles
Contractor: Julius Rinke and E J Carroll
Description: The building faces north and is a three story red colored brick structure. The building is located on landscaped grounds in the center of Hurley. The northeast corner has a high square brick tower. The north front has a large arch in the center. The building was constructed as the Vaughan Town Hall and then sold to the county. The old courtroom was located on the second story. The building served as the courthouse until 1975. The building houses the Iron County Historical Museum.
Note: The contracts for the excavation and foundation was Julius Rinke and Means. The building was constructed as the Vaughan Town Hall and then sold to the county in 1894.
See: National Register of Historic Places – Old Iron County Courthouse
See: The 9th Judicial District includes Florence County, Forest County, Langlade County, Lincoln County, Marathon County, Menominee County, Oneida County, Portage County, Price County, Shawano County, Taylor County, Vilas County and Wood County.
History: The county was created in 1893 and Hurley was selected as the county seat. The first courthouse was constructed in 1892 to 1893 at a cost of $27,304 and is still standing. The second and present courthouse was constructed in 1974 to 1975.
County Courthouse – Hurley
County Circuit Court courtroom
Old County Courthouse – Hurley
Photos taken 2007 and 2015
Images 19*