Cass County Courthouse
a.k.a. 32CS1335
211 S. 9th St., Fargo, NDThe 1904-06 Cass County Court House is significant architecturally as Fargo's premier example of Rennaissance Revival style architecture. Compared to many upper midwest court houses of similar age, its integrity is excellent. The jail and sheriff's house, connected to the Court House by enclosed walkways, is compatible with related county buildings on the same block dating from 1913. These buildings have served the governmental functions of Cass County since their construction. All three structures were the work of Charles E. Bell, whose practice extended from Montana to Minnesota. They constitute an important element in the corpus of his work.
In partnership with Kent, Bell designed the Montana State Capitol in 1898, and several county court houses in that state. The competition for the present (third) Cass County Court House was fierce. The first courthouse was sold and eventually razed; the second burned on November 17, 1903. Bell was listed as living in Helena, Montana, when the Cass County Commissioners announced their choice of architect in March 1905. Designs of prominent Fargo architects (such as the Hancock Brothers, Milton E. Beebe, and William C. Albrant) along with plans by Minnesota architects, were rejected in favor of Bell's Renaissance Revival design.
By the time construction of the Cass County, Court House was underway in 1904, Bell had moved to Minneapolis, Minnesota, forming a partnership (from 1904-07) with Menno S. Detweiler. While the Court House was being built, Bell and Detweiler. designed the Grant County Court House (1904-05) in Elbow Lake, Minnesota, and also the Martin County Court House in Fairmount, Minnesota, 4 which is on the National Register. In subsequent partnerships and alone, Bell practiced into the 1920s in Minnesota, designing many residences in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area.
The 1982 north wing of the Cass County Court House, designed by Clark, Holman, and Moorhead of Fargo, received the 1982 North Dakota State Design Award from the N. D. Chapter of the A.I.A.
Local significance of the building:
In partnership with Kent, Bell designed the Montana State Capitol in 1898, and several county court houses in that state. The competition for the present (third) Cass County Court House was fierce. The first courthouse was sold and eventually razed; the second burned on November 17, 1903. Bell was listed as living in Helena, Montana, when the Cass County Commissioners announced their choice of architect in March 1905. Designs of prominent Fargo architects (such as the Hancock Brothers, Milton E. Beebe, and William C. Albrant) along with plans by Minnesota architects, were rejected in favor of Bell's Renaissance Revival design.
By the time construction of the Cass County, Court House was underway in 1904, Bell had moved to Minneapolis, Minnesota, forming a partnership (from 1904-07) with Menno S. Detweiler. While the Court House was being built, Bell and Detweiler. designed the Grant County Court House (1904-05) in Elbow Lake, Minnesota, and also the Martin County Court House in Fairmount, Minnesota, 4 which is on the National Register. In subsequent partnerships and alone, Bell practiced into the 1920s in Minnesota, designing many residences in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area.
The 1982 north wing of the Cass County Court House, designed by Clark, Holman, and Moorhead of Fargo, received the 1982 North Dakota State Design Award from the N. D. Chapter of the A.I.A.
Politics/government; Architecture
Listed in National Register of Historic Places in 1983.
About National Register Listings
The National Register of Historic Places is the official list of the Nation’s historic places worthy of preservation. Authorized by the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, the National Park Service’s National Register of Historic Places is part of a national program to coordinate and support public and private efforts to identify, evaluate, and protect America’s historic and archeological resources.
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The famous North Dakota artist, Frederic Remington, spent time in the state in the late 1800s and produced several paintings and sculptures inspired by the Western frontier and the people who lived there.
About Cass County
Cass County Timeline
Cass County, North Dakota, has a rich history that traces back to the early 1800s. The area was originally inhabited by Native American tribes, including the Dakota and Ojibwe peoples, who relied on the fertile soil and abundant resources of the region for their livelihoods.
The first known European settlers arrived in what is now Cass County in the mid-1800s, drawn by the promise of fertile farmland. The area soon became a hub for agricultural development, with settlers establishing numerous small towns and farming communities. In 1873, Cass County was officially created and named after territorial governor George Washington Cass.
Throughout the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Cass County experienced significant growth and development. New rail lines were laid, connecting the county to markets across the region and facilitating the transportation of goods. As the county and its population expanded, new industries emerged, including flour mills, lumber production, and manufacturing.
In the early 20th century, Cass County faced challenges such as drought, economic downturns, and the impact of World War I. However, the county managed to weather these challenges and continued to develop. Today, Cass County is the most populous county in North Dakota and remains a major center for agriculture, as well as a hub for education, healthcare, and industry.
The first known European settlers arrived in what is now Cass County in the mid-1800s, drawn by the promise of fertile farmland. The area soon became a hub for agricultural development, with settlers establishing numerous small towns and farming communities. In 1873, Cass County was officially created and named after territorial governor George Washington Cass.
Throughout the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Cass County experienced significant growth and development. New rail lines were laid, connecting the county to markets across the region and facilitating the transportation of goods. As the county and its population expanded, new industries emerged, including flour mills, lumber production, and manufacturing.
In the early 20th century, Cass County faced challenges such as drought, economic downturns, and the impact of World War I. However, the county managed to weather these challenges and continued to develop. Today, Cass County is the most populous county in North Dakota and remains a major center for agriculture, as well as a hub for education, healthcare, and industry.
Cass County Timeline
This timeline provides a condensed summary of the historical journey of Cass County, North Dakota.
- 1804: Lewis and Clark expedition explores the area of present-day Cass County
- 1818: The region becomes part of the land acquired through the Treaty of Fort Jackson
- 1872: Cass County is established by the Dakota Territory Legislature
- 1873: The city of Fargo is founded as the county seat
- 1879: The Great Northern Railway reaches Fargo, boosting the city's growth and development
- 1881: North Dakota Agricultural College (now North Dakota State University) is established in Fargo
- 1893: The Fargo-Moorhead Flood devastates the region
- 1957: The first Interstate highway in the state, Interstate 29, is opened in Cass County
- 1974: Fargo experiences a major tornado outbreak, causing significant damage
- 1997: The Red River Flood of 1997 causes extensive flooding in the county