The Montezuma County Court House was originally located one block south at the corner of First and Chestnut Streets, and the present building was constructed on this site in 1937. Cortez was chosen as the county seat in 1889, reflecting the vision of pioneer leaders who settled the Montezuma Valley, even though Mancos and Delores were then considerably larger communities and were more likely choices. The building still retains its original brick construction on the western portion, and the eastern red brick section was completed in 1960. The spruce trees shown in a photograph in front of the building indicate the building's age, being about 61 years old in 1998.