Burlington District Court can also be called by its more formal name, Des Moines District Court. It is in the Eighth judicial district of Iowa. Running through this county are US 34, US 61 and SR 163.

For a number of years, the American Fur Company had a branch which operated a trading post on the present site of the city of Burlington. At the time Des Moines County was established, around 1834, it and Dubuque County were the only counties in existence and together they contained all of present day Iowa in their borders. This continued until around 1836 when the legislature split Des Moines County into several counties. The county maintains several campsites and parks throughout the county each with a shelter house. Burlington"s Memorial auditorium was built by the Works Project Administration during the Great Depression. It is now the scene of concerts, Broadway shows, the circus, bull riding, wrestling matches, craft shows, trade shows and conventions. The Burlington Civic Music association presents a series of musical performances and dance shows at this venue. Each year the Burlington Steamboat Days presents its six day American Music festival in June at the concert grounds along the Mississippi river. The performances at this event are by big name musical entertainers and groups.