Belmont County, Ohio

Founding: September 7, 1801
Parent counties: Jefferson and Washington

Naming: A traditional name—French for "beautiful mountain"
Seat: Pultney (1801–1803); St. Clairsville (1803–)

Land area: 532 square miles

Population (2010): 70,400

Population (historic): 11,097 (1810); 34,600 (1850); 49,638 (1880); 94,719 (1930)

Periods of population growth: 1800–1830; 1840s; 1870–1890; 1900–1920

Subdivisions: Two cities; 14 villages; six CDPs; 16 townships

National Register listings: 27

Income (per capita): $20,266

Income (median household): $38,320
Business establishments: 1,489 (47.3 people per business)
Pre-1939 residences (estimated): 10,523 (32.6%)
Vacant houses: 4,288 (13.3%)
Sources of settlement: Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia, Ireland, and Switzerland

St. Clairsville

Namesake: Arthur St. Clair (1737–1818), territorial governor

Founding: ca. 1799 (platting, as Newellstown); 1801 (post office)

Population (2010): 5,184

Population (historic): 431 (1810); 1,025 (1850); 1,128 (1880); 2,440 (1930)

Periods of population growth: 1800–1830; 1840s; 1900–1940; 1950–1980
Typology: Grid (linear)

Courthouse Prehistory

- Before construction of the first courthouse, Belmont County's government met at several private residences in Pultney.

First Courthouse

Location: Pultney

Construction: 1801

Years of service: 1801–1805

Typology: Cubic; brick; two-story

Style: None (?)

Builder: Various

Cost: Unknown

Status: Razed

Features of note: Appearance unknown. The structure measured 35' by 35'.

Second Courthouse

Location: St. Clairsville

Construction: 1803

Years of service: 1803–1814

Typology: Single-pen; log; two-story

Style: None

Builder: Alexander Young

Cost: $1,070 ($17,737 in 2017 dollars)

Status: Razed

Features of note: Appearance unknown. The building doubled as a jail.

Third Courthouse

Location: Main Street (St. Clairsville)

Construction: 1814–1815

Years of service: 1815–1885

Typology: Cubic; brick; two-story

Style: Federal

Builder: William Brown

Cost: $56,040 ($760,797 in 2017 dollars)

Status: Razed

Features of note: Octagonal central cupola; five-bay-three bay arrangement; splayed lintels; twelve-over-twelve and six-over-six windows; doorway with fanlight and entablature.

For a photo, see this page.

Fourth Courthouse

Photo by B.W. Smith.

Location: 101 West Main Street (St. Clairsville)

Construction: 1885–1888

Years of service: 1888–

Typology: Axial; stone; two-story (with elevated basement)

Style: Classical Revival / Romanesque

Architect: Joseph W. Yost

Cost: $56,040 ($760,797 in 2017 dollars)

Status: Extant; functional

Features of note: Circular central clock tower; corner pavilions; urns; arched pediments; denticulate entablature; modillions; abundant pediments; paired Corinthian columns; intricate carvings; round-arched windows with hoodmolds and keystones; rusticated stonework.


Sources: Wikipedia; Courthouse History; United States Census Bureau; Centennial History of Belmont County, Ohio, and Representative Citizens (Biographical Publishing, 1903).