The Colusa County Courthouse, in

Colusa, California Colusa is a city in and the county seat of Colusa County, California, located in the Sacramento Valley region of the Central Valley. The population was 6,411 at the 2020 census, up from 5,971 at the 2010 census. Colusa originates from the l ...

was erected in 1861. This Greek Revival style building is the oldest remaining courthouse in the

Sacramento Valley The Sacramento Valley is the area of the Central Valley of the U.S. state of California that lies north of the Sacramento–San Joaquin River Delta and is drained by the Sacramento River. It encompasses all or parts of ten Northern California ...

. The "Southern" style reflects the county's heritage and states' rights sympathies during the

American Civil War The American Civil War (April 12, 1861May 26, 1865; also known by Names of the American Civil War, other names) was a civil war in the United States between the Union (American Civil War), Union ("the North") and the Confederate States of A ...

, largely due to the influence of the local newspaper editor Will S. Green. In its early years, the courthouse also served as a center for cultural, social, and religious activities. The courthouse is

California Historical Landmark A California Historical Landmark (CHL) is a building, structure, site, or place in the U.S. state of California that has been determined to have statewide historical landmark significance. Criteria Historical significance is determined by meetin ...

#890, a designation it received in 1976. The courthouse, constructed of brick and later covered in plaster, cost $21,000 to build. A golden bear statue stands above the front door, atop four 30-foot columns. Originally, the building had a large dome on the roof, but it was removed not long after the courthouse's construction because it leaked. The building is now topped by a cupola that holds a bell. The courthouse is home to a statue of George Washington that was given to the county after the 1860 election. Colusa County voters donated more money per voter to fund construction of the Washington Monument, in Washington, D.C., than voters anywhere else in California. The county received the statue in recognition.

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