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Clay County Courthouse
Photo: Scott Romine, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons · tap to enlarge
National Register of Historic Places

Clay County Courthouse

Spencer’s first place on the National RegisterListed Jul 2, 1981; only 433 of Iowa’s 2,458 listings are older
Classical RevivalListed 1981Spencer
DirectionsAdd an old photo

Many listed buildings are private homes. Please enjoy them from the street.

About

About Clay County Courthouse

Clay County Courthouse, at W. 4th St. and 3rd Ave., W., was added to the National Register of Historic Places on Jul 2, 1981: the first place in Spencer to be listed. Only 433 of Iowa’s 2,458 listings are older. The Register lists it for its architecture, at the local level. It describes its style as Classical Revival, as it does for 112 other Iowa listings. It was listed as part of County Courthouses in Iowa TR.

What it isHistoric courthouse in Spencer, Iowa, USA. From Wikidata (CC0). Read about it on Wikipedia ↗

PDFRead the original nominationThe form that put it on the Register, with its history, photos and a map · 8 MB · National Archives↗
Through the years

1901 to today

  1. 1901Built
  2. 1981Added to the National Register of Historic Places
  3. 2026On the Register for 45 years
Visit

Make it a walk: 3 landmarks in about 10 minutes

W. 4th St. and 3rd Ave., W., Spencer · about 0.4 miles on foot, as the crow flies

DirectionsWalk the tour in Google Maps
  1. 1Clay County CourthouseStart here
  2. 2Grand Avenue Historic Commercial DistrictRomanesque Revival · 0.2 mi on
  3. 3Spencer High School and AuditoriumArt Deco · 0.2 mi on
Around it

3 more Register listings within 2 miles

★ National Historic Landmark · D district · B building · S site. Each opens its own page.

BAdams-Higgins HouseNeo-Classical · Built 18840.6 miDNorth Grand Avenue Residential Historic DistrictDistrict0.6 miStLittle Sioux River BridgePennsylvania Through Truss1.8 mi

Memories of Clay County Courthouse

The record says what it is. Neighbors know what it means.

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Have an old photo of it?Add it · +10

Questions about Clay County Courthouse

Is Clay County Courthouse on the National Register of Historic Places?

Yes. It was added on Jul 2, 1981 (Register number 81000229).

Is Clay County Courthouse a National Historic Landmark?

No. It is on the National Register; Iowa has 22 National Historic Landmarks.

Can you visit Clay County Courthouse?

Our record doesn’t say whether it is open to visitors. Many listed buildings are private, so it may only be seen from the street.

Where can I read the history of Clay County Courthouse?

In its National Register nomination, the form that put it on the Register: a 8 MB PDF at the National Archives, linked on this page.

Sources: National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places (05/22/2026) · National Archives catalog record 75336175 · Wikidata. Map tiles © OpenStreetMap contributors.