6 Best Courthouse Squares In Southern California

Southern California’s courthouse squares tell a story distinct from the rest of the Golden State. Rather than the sprawling metropolitan skylines of Los Angeles or San Diego, these smaller civic centers, located in places such as Santa Paula, Brawley, and El Centro, reflect the region’s agricultural, architectural, and cultural diversity. From the Neoclassical columns of the Imperial County Courthouse in El Centro to the county plaza in Lompoc, each square blends local history with modern community life. Visitors can explore museum-filled main streets, attend events like the Cattle Call Rodeo in Brawley or VillageFest in Palm Springs, and even step into California’s mission past at La Purisima Mission State Historic Park in Lompoc.

El Centro

The Imperial County Courthouse in El Centro opened in approximately 1924 and was built on donated land as the county’s permanent seat; its Neoclassical facade with prominent portico has anchored life on Main Street since then, and a new county courthouse complex has supplemented the historic building in recent years. Visitors can begin at the courthouse and walk south to Bucklin Park for seasonal community programming like El Centro’s Easter Eggstravaganza.

For a sampling of the local cuisine that situates you near the courthouse, a short walk west will bring you to Imperial Avenue North, where you will find popular spots like Burgers & Beer and Mah’s Kitchen. A short drive north is the California Mid-Winter Fair and Fiesta at the Imperial Valley Fairgrounds, which holds ten days of agricultural exhibits and carnival rides. Food lovers should plan a visit that coincides with Fiesta de los Muertos, Blues, Brews & BBQ - two local festivals that take place in neighboring Downtown Imperial.

Brawley

At the heart of Brawley is the five-acre Plaza Park, divided in half by Main Street and rimmed with the city hall, library, and the Brawley Courthouse, a facility of the Superior Court of California that has long served the Imperial Valley. It is one of the few courthouses in the state that still retains its original courtroom, although it primarily serves ceremonial functions, having been restored in 1982.

The Plaza Park is the logical starting point for the annual Cattle Call Rodeo and Parade, a week-long community celebration that includes a rodeo, Mariachi Night, and a downtown parade along Main Street. The Cattle Call and its related Mariachi Night draw thousands, transforming the courthouse square into a vibrant hub of festival activity. Walk from the courthouse to one of the many local murals, like the ‘Greetings from Brawley’ one by local artist Jesus Lopez, or to some of the antique storefronts in the downtown area.

Palm Springs

Palm Springs’ downtown is anchored less by courthouse columns than by a civic center rhythm that includes a branch of the Riverside County Superior Court and a lively palm-lined plaza. The Palm Springs VillageFest transforms downtown Palm Canyon Drive into a weekly open-air market featuring food stalls, street musicians, and craft vendors. Evening visitors can pair VillageFest browsing with a stop at the Palm Springs Art Museum, which showcases modern and Native American collections that include approximately 3,000 sculptures, paintings, prints, and photographs.

Continue along Palm Canyon Drive to discover Palm Springs’ culinary scene, where al fresco meals are incredibly popular. Spots like The Front Porch, 1501 Uptown Gastropub, and Crudo Cervicheria Palm Springs provide great food with outdoor seating that lets you appreciate the town’s balmy weather. Architecture is a significant highlight of Palm Springs, and tours highlight mid-century modern residences, including homes by renowned architects such as Richard Neutra and Albert Frey.

Lompoc

Lompoc’s Civic Center Plaza groups many of the county’s administrative buildings and courthouse services in a single, concentrated walking area. Beyond that, the county plaza also serves as a gateway of sorts to many of the town’s strongest draws: the La Purisima Mission State Historic Park. The Chumash people lived in the region for thousands of years, but the mission was established in 1787. It is now a fully restored mission, with guided living-history programs and miles of hiking trails. Additionally, the Lompoc Murals offer a self-guided tour of more than 30 public murals in Old Town, and the Lompoc Wine Trail features tasting rooms and urban wineries.

The Civic Center location makes courthouse business convenient and places visitors within a short drive of Jalama Beach for coastal walks and picnic stops. The Cabrillo High School Aquarium is a terrific local resource that is free during the school year and promotes a hands-on experience, education, and global awareness of marine and aquatic life.

San Luis Obispo

The San Luis Obispo County Courthouse, built in 1940 in the Art Deco style, remains the center of the city’s civic district. Located steps from Mission San Luis Obispo de Tolosa, one of California’s original 18th-century Franciscan missions, it links local government with the region’s earliest European settlement. The mission serves as a place of worship and also functions as a museum, preserving a vast collection of artifacts that encompass Native Californian, Mission Era, and American Settlement Periods.

Visitors can stroll the adjacent Mission Plaza, where the city hosts public art and fountains frame the courthouse view, attend concerts during the Concerts in the Plaza summer series, or visit the San Luis Obispo Museum of Art for rotating exhibits of Central Coast artists. Food and wine enthusiasts can explore the surrounding Downtown SLO Farmers Market, one of California’s largest weekly street markets, offering local tri-tip barbecue, produce, and live performances.

Paso Robles

The Paso Robles Branch Courthouse of the San Luis Obispo County Superior Court anchors a lively downtown that centers on the nearby Downtown City Park, a five-acre green square donated by the town founders and framed by historic brick storefronts and the old Carnegie library. Visitors can time a visit to the courthouse to coincide with the city’s long-running Concerts in the Park series. The series is known to fill the downtown lawn with free Thursday evening performances from June through August, drawing local families and visitors for music and picnic-style gatherings.

Food and market culture converge on the Downtown Square at the twice-weekly Paso Robles Farmers Market, held on Tuesday mornings and Saturday late mornings near the park, where vendors sell seasonal produce, artisan cheeses, and prepared local specialties. Wine lovers can wander between more than twenty downtown tasting rooms, sampling Paso Robles appellations without leaving the walkable square.

Southern California’s courthouse squares showcase the region’s distinctive blend of heritage and community life. In El Centro, the Imperial County Courthouse serves as a centerpiece for local festivals, such as the Fiesta de los Muertos. At the same time, Calexico’s 1927 courthouse reflects its cross-border culture through Cinco de Mayo celebrations and art programs. Brawley’s Plaza Park Courthouse becomes the heart of the Cattle Call Rodeo, and Palm Springs’ civic plaza pairs its courthouse with VillageFest and mid-century architecture tours. Farther north, Lompoc, San Luis Obispo, and Paso Robles blend courthouse squares with missions, farmers' markets, and outdoor concerts.