Jefferson County Courthouse (Iowa)
Encyclopedia
The Jefferson County Courthouse in Fairfield, Iowa
, United States
was built from 1890 to 1893. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places
in 1981 as a part of the County Courthouses in Iowa Thematic Resource. The courthouse is the third building the county has used for court functions and county administration.
first courthouse was built in 1840. It was a two-story frame structure with a gable
d roof. The building was destroyed in a fire in 1916. It was replaced by a 40 by 70 foot structure that was built of brick in 1851. Because the building was in poor condition court sessions were held in Harmony Church starting in 1880. A poor economy delayed the construction of a new courthouse until construction was begun on the present building in 1890. The Romanesque Revival building was completed three years later at a cost of $73,630.87. The exterior is constructed in Cleveland grey sandstone
and brick. The interior features wood work in native oak
. The clock tower was modified in 1948.
Fairfield, Iowa
Fairfield is a city and the county seat of Jefferson County, Iowa, United States. The population was 9,464 in the 2010 census, a decline from 9,509 in the 2000 census. - History :...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
was built from 1890 to 1893. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
in 1981 as a part of the County Courthouses in Iowa Thematic Resource. The courthouse is the third building the county has used for court functions and county administration.
History
Jefferson County’sJefferson County, Iowa
-2010 census:The 2010 census recorded a population of 16,843 in the county, with a population density of . There were 7,594 housing units, of which 6,846 were occupied.-2000 census:...
first courthouse was built in 1840. It was a two-story frame structure with a gable
Gable
A gable is the generally triangular portion of a wall between the edges of a sloping roof. The shape of the gable and how it is detailed depends on the structural system being used and aesthetic concerns. Thus the type of roof enclosing the volume dictates the shape of the gable...
d roof. The building was destroyed in a fire in 1916. It was replaced by a 40 by 70 foot structure that was built of brick in 1851. Because the building was in poor condition court sessions were held in Harmony Church starting in 1880. A poor economy delayed the construction of a new courthouse until construction was begun on the present building in 1890. The Romanesque Revival building was completed three years later at a cost of $73,630.87. The exterior is constructed in Cleveland grey sandstone
Sandstone
Sandstone is a sedimentary rock composed mainly of sand-sized minerals or rock grains.Most sandstone is composed of quartz and/or feldspar because these are the most common minerals in the Earth's crust. Like sand, sandstone may be any colour, but the most common colours are tan, brown, yellow,...
and brick. The interior features wood work in native oak
Oak
An oak is a tree or shrub in the genus Quercus , of which about 600 species exist. "Oak" may also appear in the names of species in related genera, notably Lithocarpus...
. The clock tower was modified in 1948.