The Nodaway County Courthouse is the centerpiece for Maryville and the county seat for Nodaway County and its court and judicial system. The Nodaway Courthouse is a beautiful example of Victorian architecture and modern style. It is located in the center of Maryville's town square. The Courthouse is visible from most places in the downtown area, towering over the surrounding area. Through time, the building has stood tall, and it has stood proud as a representation of the town and all of the beliefs that it stands for. The Nodaway County Courthouse has undergone three different iterations but has always represented its people's political and architectural styles and beliefs.

The Courthouse Through History

The First Courthouse

In 1847, the people of Nodaway County built a log cabin-style building and they called it the courthouse. This building was 32 feet by 20 feet in area and cost $250 at the time of construction, equivalent to $9,600 today. This courthouse was not in service for long and was soon abandoned in 1853 to build a new one. This original structure was located on the corner of Main and Second, where the pocket park and fountain in town are currently located.

The Second Courthouse

In 1853, the county decided that a larger-scale building was needed to operate the town. So, an order for a $6,461.32 two-story brick courthouse was placed alongside a $3,000 jail. These two buildings were constructed within the year and were on the lot where the current courthouse is in the town square's center. That building was rushed and had many issues, including a lack of interior stairs and a constant state of dust from the sawdust falling within it. The cost of those buildings would be the equivalent of $387,000 today.

The Current Courthouse

In 1880, both the jailhouse and courthouse were destroyed and deemed unfit for the services that they were intended to serve. However, in 1881, a new courthouse was constructed and finished in 1883. The building that is still standing to this day stands at 111 feet tall and 70 feet wide. According to Martha Cooper from the Nodaway County page, this "continues to dominate the city skyline." This building cost $60,000 to construct, equivalent to $1,870,000 today. Although, in 1970, some of the residents of Nodaway County wanted to destroy the courthouse and build a new one, the residents eventually decided to leave it and allow it to commemorate the history of their fantastic town.

Cooper, Martha. County Facts, Nodaway County Missouri. November 28th, 2017. Accessed October 9th, 2024. https://nodawaycountymo.us/county-facts/.

Steiner, Michael J. Images of America Nodaway County. Images of America. Charleston, South Carolina. Arcadia Publishing, 2008.

Steiner, Michael J. Trout, Brent. Images of America Maryville. Images of America. Charleston, South Carolina. Arcadia Publishing, 2013.

Nodaway County Historical Society. Tales of Nodaway County. Edition Area History ... 1837-1977. Vernon, Indiana. Windmill Publications, Inc., 1991.