It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2003 as a part of the PWA-Era County Courthouses of Iowa Multiple Properties Submission.

[3] The Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad extended tracks to Atlantic and the town offered the county land for a new courthouse.

The building soon proved to be inadequate and the county rented the nearby Park House to provide additional space.

[4] Voters passed the second referendum in 1933 and the county retained the Des Moines architectural firm of Dougher, Rich & Woodburn to design the new building.

Larsen Co. of Council Bluffs, Iowa won the bid to construct the building and work began in March 1934.

[2] A two-bay garage of matching brick was built in the southwest corner of the square shortly after the courthouse was completed.