Clermont County, Ohio

Founding: December 6, 1800
Parent county: Hamilton

Naming: A traditional name—French for "clear mountain"
Seats: Williamsburg (1800–1823); New Richmond (1823–1824); Batavia (1824–)

Land area: 452 square miles

Population (2010): 197,363

Population (historic): 9,965 (1810); 30,455 (1850); 36,713 (1880); 29,786 (1930)

Periods of population growth: 1800–1850; 1930–2010

Subdivisions: Two cities; 11 villages; eight CDPs; 14 townships

National Register listings: 28

Income (per capita): $27,900

Income (median household): $58,472
Business establishments: 3,521 (56.1 people per business)
Pre-1939 residences (estimated): 6,200 (7.6%)
Vacant houses: 7,155 (8.8%)
Sources of settlement: Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Virginia, Germany, Kentucky, and Maryland

Batavia

Namesake: Batavia, New York

Founding: 1814 (platting); 1818 (post office); 1842 (incorporation)

Population (2010): 1,509

Population (historic): 208 (1820); 500 (1860); 1,029 (1900); 1,119 (1930)

Periods of population growth: 1820s; 1840–1880; 1930s; 1950s
Typology: Grid

Courthouse Prehistory

Photo from the Clermont County Common Pleas Court website.

- Between 1801 and 1804, Clermont County officials met in a log building rented by Thomas Morris.

First Courthouse

Location: Williamsburg

Construction: 1805–1810

Years of service: 1810–1824

Typology: Front-gabled; stone; two-story

Style: Federal (?)

Builders: John Wright and John Charles

Cost: $1,499 ($23,808 in 2017 dollars)

Status: Razed (in 1858)

Features of note: Three-by-two bay arrangement; circular attic vent; gable-spanning cornice.

For a photo, see this page.

Second Courthouse

Photo from the Clermont County Common Pleas Court website.

Location: East Main Street (Batavia)

Construction: 1827–1829

Years of service: 1829–1935

Typology: Front-gabled; brick; two-story

Style: Federal

Builder: Ezekiel Dimmitt

Cost: $3,483 ($81,310 in 2017 dollars)

Status: Razed

Features of note: Projecting central tower with octagonal cupola; three-bay facade; integral gutter; rectangular lintels and sills; nine-over-nine windows; operable shutters; round-arched brick door surround.

Third Courthouse

Photo from the Clermont County Common Pleas Court website.

Location: 270 East Main Street (Batavia)

Construction: 1935–1936 / 1955 / 1998

Years of service: 1936–

Typology: Irregular; brick; two-story

Style: "Starved Classicism"

Architect: Hunt and Allen / Steinkamp, Steinkamp, and Hampton

Cost: $115,000 ($2,068,752 in 2017 dollars)

Status: Extant; functional

Features of note: Projecting central block; simplified entablature; nine-bay facade; square pilasters; rectangular lintels and sills; six-over-six windows.


Sources: Wikipedia; Courthouse History; United States Census Bureau; History of Clermont County, Ohio (Everts, 1880).