Trails to the Past of Iowa is accepting any donations of genealogy materials that you may have such as marriage announcements, news articles, old obituaries, births, (you do not need the birth certificate) just the information, and biographies.  If you have any of these items please contact me Marie Miller the Iowa State Administrator.

Johnson County was created in December 1837 by the legislature of the Wisconsin Territory, one of thirteen counties established by that body in a comprehensive act. The county's area was partitioned from Dubuque County, and was not initially provided with a civil government, instead being governed by Cedar County officials. It was named for the US Vice President Richard M. Johnson.

The first courthouse in the county was a two-story log cabin structure, built in 1838 in the settlement of Napoleon, about two miles south of the current courthouse. The building stood across from what later would become the James McCollister Farmstead on land later owned by Philip Clark.
Old Johnson County Courthouse, Iowa City, 1857-1899

After Iowa City was established as the new territorial capitol of Iowa, the county seat was removed there. The second Johnson County Courthouse, the first in Iowa City, was built on Lot 8 Block 8 of the County Seat Addition to Iowa City in 1842 for $3,690. This location was in the southeast corner of the intersection of Harrison and Clinton Streets. The building was 56 x 28 feet and two stories tall. It was built by James Trimble, who had previously built the first jail.

A third courthouse was built in 1857 in the courthouse square on Clinton Street between Court and Harrison Streets. It was used until 1901, after cracks appeared in its south wall in 1899. The building was apparently built of brick with stone and wood ornamentation.

The Richardsonian Romanesque style courthouse in use today was designed by the firm of Rush, Bowman and Rush of Grand Rapids, MI. It was bid at a cost of $111,000 and built by the firm Rowson & Son of Johnson County. The cornerstone was laid in December 1899. The building's tower was based on Henry Hobson Richardson's design for the spire of Trinity Church in Boston. The building was dedicated on June 8, 1901. The currently unused jail that stands to the west of the courthouse was designed by C.L. Wundt of Burlington on behalf of the Stewart Iron Works, Cleveland, OH and bid for $14,000.

On Line Data

Cities     Coralville     Hills     Iowa City     Lone Tree     North Liberty     Oxford     Shueyville     Solon     Swisher     Tiffin     University Heights Census-designated place     Frytown Other unincorporated communities     Amish     Elmira     Cosgrove     Morse     Oasis     River Junction     Sharon Center     Sutliff     Windham Ghost towns     Midway Townships     Big Grove     Cedar     Clear Creek     East Lucas     Fremont     Graham     Hardin     Jefferson     Liberty     Lincoln     Madison     Monroe     Newport     Oxford     Penn     Pleasant Valley     Scott     Sharon     Union     Washington

Johnson County Court House Old Johnson County Courthouse, Iowa City, 1857-1899

Adjacent counties
    Benton County - northwest
    Cedar County - east
    Iowa County - west
    Linn County - north
    Muscatine County - east and southeast
    Louisa County - southeast and south
    Washington County - south

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