National Register of Historic Places

Clay County Courthouse

Spencer, Clay County, Iowa
Listed
July 1, 1981
Type
Building
Period
Industrial
Ref No.
81000229

About this property

The Clay County Courthouse, located in Spencer, Iowa, United States, was built in 1901. 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 fourth building the county has used for court functions and county administration. A commission chose Spencer Township as Clay County's first county seat. Voters chose Peterson instead and allocated $6,000 for a courthouse. When the contractor submitted a bill for $7,500 he received $6,900. By 1871 the population in the northern part of the county was growing rapidly and the county seat moved to Spencer. A stock company was formed to build a new courthouse that was sold to the county for $1,333. County offices gradually outgrew the structure and they constructed a new two-story brick courthouse for $4,435. The old courthouse was used for a barn, a cement block factory, and then remodeled into two houses. County citizens eventually grew tired of their plain courthouse and plans were made to replace it. Construction of the present facility began in 1900 and it was completed a year later $60,000. The red stone Neoclassical building features a cupola with a bronze covered dome and a clock. Its significance is derived from its association with county government, and the political power and prestige of Spencer as the county seat.

Location

Spencer, Clay County, Iowa
43.14190, -95.14810

Categories

ARCHITECTURE
National Register nomination ›
Sources

Property data from the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).

Description adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

Unlimited access

Everything a full report reveals about Clay County Courthouse

This page lists Clay County Courthouse. A full Aubrey report for an address near it pulls together this listing alongside battlefield records, land patents, and every other historical record within a chosen radius:

Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
First month just $5.99, then $11.99 a month. Unlimited locations, cancel anytime.

Every location is different. Not every section appears for every place, only what the historical record actually holds turns up in a report.

Start your Clay County Courthouse report
Or see a real report first

Nearby Historic Sites

Grand Avenue Historic Commercial District
Modern
0.2 mi
Spencer High School and Auditorium
Industrial
0.3 mi
Adams-Higgins House
Industrial
0.6 mi
Little Sioux River Bridge
Industrial
1.8 mi
Okoboji Bridge
Industrial
9.2 mi

Questions about this property

When was Clay County Courthouse listed on the National Register?

Clay County Courthouse was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on July 1, 1981.

What type of historic resource is Clay County Courthouse?

Clay County Courthouse is classified as a building in the National Register of Historic Places.

What is the period of significance for Clay County Courthouse?

The period of significance for Clay County Courthouse is recorded as the industrial era.

Can I research the history near Clay County Courthouse?

Yes. Aubrey Research reports search National Register listings, battlefield records, land patents, and other primary historical sources within any radius of a US address. A report for an address near Clay County Courthouse will include this listing and all other historical records in the area.

More in Clay County

Historic places, battles, and census history across Clay County.

Explore ClayCounty ›

More historic places in Iowa

Browse all historic places in Iowa.

View Iowahistoric sites ›

Conflict records

Explore 19,000+ military engagements across American history.

Browse US conflicts ›

Iowa history

Colonial settlement, territorial period, and statehood narrative.

Iowahistory ›

Research the history near this site

An Aubrey US report for an address near Clay County Courthouse will include this listing alongside battlefield records and other historical sources within your chosen radius.

Research your locationView a free sample report