Ashland County, Ohio

Founding: February 24, 1846
Parent counties: Huron, Lorain, Richland, and Wayne

Namesake: The city of Ashland
Seat: Ashland (1846–)

Land area: 423 square miles

Population (2010): 53,139

Population (historic): 23,812 (1850); 23,883 (1880); 26,867 (1930)

Periods of population growth: pre-1850; 1870s; 1930–1970; 1990s

Subdivisions: One city; eight villages; one CDP; 15 townships

National Register listings: 17

Income (per capita): $20,558

Income (median household): $44,542
Business establishments: 1,026 (51.8 people per business)
Pre-1939 residences (estimated): 5,759 (26%)
Vacant houses: 1,773 (8%)
Sources of settlement: Pennsylvania, New York, Ireland, and Maryland

Ashland

Namesake: Ashland, Henry Clay's estate

Founding: 1815 (platting, as Uniontown); 1823 (post office)

Population (2010): 21,780

Population (historic): 1,264 (1850); 3,004 (1880); 4,087 (1900); 11,141 (1930)

Periods of population growth: pre-1850–1970
Typology: Grid (irregular)

Courthouse Prehistory

- Between 1846 and 1853, the Ashland County government met in a repurposed Methodist church.

First Courthouse

Location: Ashland

Construction: 1853

Years of service: 1853–1927

Typology: Front-gabled; brick; two-story

Style: Greek Revival / Italianate

Builder: Ozias S. Kinney

Cost: Unknown

Status: Razed

Features of note: Octagonal central cupola; pediment; entablature; cornice brackets; portico; Corinthian columns; divided bays.

For a photo, see this page.

Second Courthouse

Photo by OHWiki.

Location: 142 West 2nd Street (Ashland)

Construction: 1927–1929

Years of service: 1929–

Typology: Monumental; stone; two-story (with raised basement)

Style: "Starved Classicism"

Architect: Vernon Redding

Cost: $325,000 ($4,737,158 in 2017 dollars)

Status: Extant; functional

Features of note: Raised central section; fluted pilasters; octagonal medallions; stone panels between windows; balustrade.


Sources: Wikipedia; Courthouse History; United States Census Bureau.