Iredell County Courthouse
Also known as: Iredell County Courthouse and Jail
Why it's listed
Built in 1899 in Statesville, the former Iredell County Courthouse and Jail is a two-story building in the Beaux Arts classical style, designed by Charlotte architects Hayden, Wheeler and Schwend and erected by Atlanta contractor Nicholas Ittner. It occupies almost an entire city block and is the fourth courthouse in the county's history, replacing earlier log and brick buildings that had been destroyed by fire or were inadequate. Its main facade has a five-part composition with a center block topped by a mansard cupola and a two-story portico, flanked by wings. The walls are yellow brick accented with rusticated granite, glazed terra cotta, and Corinthian capitals, and the roof uses gray slate and terra cotta tile. A rear wing added around 1940 is the main exterior alteration. The second-floor courtroom retains its pressed tin ceiling and cast-iron seating. After a new courthouse was built in 1972, the building was adapted for use by Mitchell Community College. It is valued for its architecture and its representation of turn-of-the-century civic progress in Statesville.
Significance in brief: The document describes the building as a distinguished monument to Statesville's turn-of-the-century progress and sophistication. It is the fourth courthouse in the county's history, built after the county commissioners were pressed by a grand jury to improve judicial facilities. Its Beaux Arts design, varied window types, and mix of yellow brick and terra cotta and granite trim are presented as the basis for its significance, and its interior is described as little changed from the original.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 79003434, listed May 10, 1979. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | S. Center St. between W. Prospect St. and Court Pl., Statesville |
|---|---|
| County | Iredell County |
| Listed | May 10, 1979 |
| Reference number | 79003434 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | Hayden, Wheeler and Schwend (architects); Nicholas Ittner (contractor) |
| Architectural style | Beaux Arts classical |
| Areas of significance | Politics/Government, Architecture, Social History |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Used by Mitchell Community College for classrooms and offices after the county built a new courthouse nearby in 1972. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 35.78353, -80.88848 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For a publicly owned building or structure, listing mainly matters when federal funds, permits or licences are involved: projects then go through Section 106 review so effects on the property are considered. Listing also strengthens applications for preservation grants and, for leased income-producing uses, can enable the federal rehabilitation tax credit.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 79003434.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q6068443
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.