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Stearns County Courthouse facts for kids

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Stearns County Courthouse
Stearns County Courthouse and Jail
Stearns County Courthouse.jpg
The Stearns County Courthouse viewed from the southeast
Stearns County Courthouse is located in Minnesota
Stearns County Courthouse
Location in Minnesota
Stearns County Courthouse is located in the United States
Stearns County Courthouse
Location in the United States
Location 705 Courthouse Square, St. Cloud, Minnesota
Area 1.5 acres (0.6 ha)
Built 1921–1922
Built by Charles Skooglun
Architect Toltz, King & Day (courthouse), Louis Pinault (jail)
Architectural style Beaux-Arts (courthouse), Prairie School (jail)
MPS Stearns County MRA
NRHP reference No. 82003056
Added to NRHP April 15, 1982

The Stearns County Courthouse is an important building in St. Cloud, Minnesota. It is where the local government for Stearns County does its work. This building helps make sure the county runs smoothly.

Stearns County Courthouse: A Place for Government

A courthouse is a building where a county's government meets. It's where important decisions are made and where many public services are offered. The Stearns County Courthouse is the main office for Stearns County. It helps people with things like property records, elections, and other local government needs.

History of the Courthouse Building

The current Stearns County Courthouse was built a long time ago, between 1921 and 1922. It was built to replace an older courthouse from 1864. This new building was designed to be grand and important, showing the strength of the county government. It stands in a special area in downtown St. Cloud, surrounded by other government buildings.

The Old Jail Building

Next to the courthouse, a jail was built in 1922. This jail was designed in a different style called Prairie School. Both the courthouse and the jail were recognized as important historical buildings in 1982. They were added to the National Register of Historic Places. This list includes places that are special because of their history or how they were built. The old jail building was later taken down in 1987.

Architectural Style

The Stearns County Courthouse is built in a style called Beaux-Arts architecture. This style was popular in the late 1800s and early 1900s. Buildings in this style often look very grand and formal. They usually have:

  • Big, impressive entrances
  • Tall columns
  • Detailed decorations
  • A sense of balance and order

The old jail building, which is no longer there, was built in the Prairie School style. This style was created in the Midwest United States. It focused on simple, strong lines and often blended with the flat landscape.

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