National Register of Historic Places

Fremont County Courthouse

Sidney, Fremont County, Iowa
Listed
July 1, 1981
Type
Building
Period
Industrial
Ref No.
81000238

About this property

The Fremont County Courthouse, located in Sidney, Iowa, United States, was built in 1889. 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 second structure to house court functions and county administration. Fremont County was organized in 1850. Its first county seat was in Austin, a community 7.5 miles (12.1 km) south of Sidney. There were two houses in the small town and court sessions were held in the storeroom of A.H. Argyle's home. The county seat moved to Sydney the following year. In 1860, commissioners erected a two-story brick building that featured a heavy brick tower and a tin roof for $40,000. The county financed its construction through the sale of swampland. The structure was heavily damaged in an explosion in 1863. Its windows and doors were blown out of the structure and the second floor and roof were thrown out of place. While the county spent money to repair the building, the fissures in the walls continued to increase in size in the following years and the decision was made to build a new courthouse. The current courthouse is a two-story brick structure constructed in 1889. It is rather plain in appearance for the period it was built. The building's primary features includes an entrance porch with round arches perched on short, medieval-looking, granite columns; and the brick wall dormers with triangular pediments and oculus windows. The squat tower has several shed dormers along the roofline. At one time the exterior was covered with stucco. The building is situated on a double square, which is a rarity in Iowa. Its significance is derived from its association with county government, and the political power and prestige of Sidney as the county seat.

Location

Sidney, Fremont County, Iowa
40.74589, -95.64387

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 Fremont County Courthouse

This page lists Fremont 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 Fremont County Courthouse report
Or see a real report first

Nearby Historic Sites

Rector, Jason and Elizabeth Baylor, House
Industrial
3.6 mi
Chautauqua Pavilion
Industrial
5.1 mi
Hunter School
Industrial
8.9 mi
Hamburg Public Library
Industrial
9.7 mi
Todd House
Industrial
10.7 mi

Questions about this property

When was Fremont County Courthouse listed on the National Register?

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

What type of historic resource is Fremont County Courthouse?

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

What is the period of significance for Fremont County Courthouse?

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

Can I research the history near Fremont 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 Fremont County Courthouse will include this listing and all other historical records in the area.

More in Fremont County

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

Explore FremontCounty ›

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 Fremont County Courthouse will include this listing alongside battlefield records and other historical sources within your chosen radius.

Research your locationView a free sample report