Brown County, Ohio
Founding: March 1, 1818
Parent counties: Adams and Clermont
Namesake: Jacob Brown (1775–1828), War of 1812 officer
Seat: Ripley (1818–1821); Bridgewater (contested, 1819); Georgetown (1821–)
Seat: Ripley (1818–1821); Bridgewater (contested, 1819); Georgetown (1821–)
Land area: 490 square miles
Population (2010): 44,846
Population (historic): 13,356 (1820); 29,958 (1860); 28,237 (1900); 20,148 (1930)
Periods of population growth: 1800–1850; 1950s; 1970s; 1990s
Subdivisions: Nine villages; three CDPs; 16 townships
National Register listings: 26
Income (per capita): $20,167
Income (median household): $45,887
Business establishments: 542 (82.7 people per business)
Pre-1939 residences (estimated): 3,097 (16%)
Vacant houses: 2,756 (14.2%)
Sources of settlement: Pennsylvania, Virginia, Kentucky, Germany, and Ireland
Business establishments: 542 (82.7 people per business)
Pre-1939 residences (estimated): 3,097 (16%)
Vacant houses: 2,756 (14.2%)
Sources of settlement: Pennsylvania, Virginia, Kentucky, Germany, and Ireland
Georgetown
Founding: 1819 (platting); 1821 (post office)
Population (2010): 4,331
Population (historic): 618 (1850); 1,293 (1880); 1,531 (1930)
Periods of population growth: 1820–1890; 1930–1980; 2000s
Typology: Grid (with central courthouse square)
- In 1818, Brown County's first government convened at the house of Alexander Campbell, in Ripley.
- Until 1821, the identity of Brown County's seat was an unsettled matter. Some favored Ripley (at the time, the county's largest community); others preferred a centrally located (but undeveloped) site called Bridgewater. Ultimately, legislators satisfied neither side by selecting Georgetown.
- In 1820, the county government began constructing a courthouse in Ripley. This structure never served a public function, though, and it "was sold at public auction for a small sum."
Typology: Grid (with central courthouse square)
Courthouse Prehistory and Miscellany
- In 1818, Brown County's first government convened at the house of Alexander Campbell, in Ripley.
- Until 1821, the identity of Brown County's seat was an unsettled matter. Some favored Ripley (at the time, the county's largest community); others preferred a centrally located (but undeveloped) site called Bridgewater. Ultimately, legislators satisfied neither side by selecting Georgetown.
- In 1820, the county government began constructing a courthouse in Ripley. This structure never served a public function, though, and it "was sold at public auction for a small sum."
First Courthouse
Location: Public Square (Georgetown)
Construction: 1823–1824
Years of service: 1824–1849
Typology: Cubic; brick; two-story
Style: Federal (?)
Builders: Thomas Hamer, William White, Michael Weaver, et al.
Cost: $4,000 ($90,589 in 2017 dollars)
Status: Razed
Features of note: Octagonal central cupola; three-by-three bay arrangement.
For an illustration, see this book.
Location: 101 South Main Street (Georgetown)
For an illustration, see this book.
Second Courthouse
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| Photo by Nyttend. |
Location: 101 South Main Street (Georgetown)
Construction: 1849–1851 / 1914
Years of service: 1851–
Typology: Front-gabled (temple-form); brick; two-story
Style: Greek Revival
Architect: Hubbard Baker
Cost: Unknown
Status: Extant; functional
Features of note: Clock tower with paired pilasters and octagonal cupola; pediment; wide entablature; bays divided by pilasters; shuttered twelve-over-twelve windows; crossettes; three-bay facade; recessed central bay with Doric columns in antis.
Sources: Wikipedia; United States Census Bureau; The History of Brown County, Ohio (Beers, 1883).
Sources: Wikipedia; United States Census Bureau; The History of Brown County, Ohio (Beers, 1883).
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