In 1869, the centrally located railroad town of Carroll City was selected as the county seat, replacing, with some protest, Carrollton.

The vaults and records were undamaged, however, and moved to temporary housing in the Joyce Building and Drees' Music Hall.

[citation needed] The following winter a $40,000 bond issue was approved toward the construction of a new, permanent courthouse.

The stone-and-brick building was built on the northwest corner of the square (the parking lot of the current courthouse).

The courthouse, complete with a clock-tower, was used for more than three-quarters of a century, then replaced by a modern-looking building in 1965.

[citation needed] A $750,000 bond issue was used to construct and equip the new courthouse.

The highlight of the dedication ceremony was the opening of the boxes sealed in the cornerstone of the old courthouse.

A Douglas DC-3 carrying the coach and players of the Minneapolis Lakers, made an emergency landing in a cornfield during a snowstorm after having got lost due to an electrical malfunction and poor weather.

[9] According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 5.69 square miles (14.74 km2), all land.

As of the census of 2020,[16] there were 10,321 people, 4,468 households, and 2,596 families residing in the city.

At the 2010 census there were 10,103 people, 4,357 households, and 2,605 families living in the city.

At the 2000 census there were 10,106 people, 4,173 households, and 2,649 families living in the city.