Clinton County, Ohio

Founding: March 1, 1810
Parent counties: Highland and Warren

Namesake: George Clinton (1739–1812), New York governor
Seat: Wilmington (1810–)

Land area: 409 square miles

Population (2010): 42,040

Population (historic): 2,674 (1810); 18,838 (1850); 24,756 (1880); 21,547 (1930)

Periods of population growth: 1810–1860; 1870s; 1940–1960; 1970s; 1990s

Subdivisions: One city; eight villages; 13 townships

National Register listings: 18

Income (per capita): $22,163

Income (median household): $46,261
Business establishments: 720 (58.4 people per business)
Pre-1939 residences (estimated): 3,126 (17.3%)
Vacant houses: 2,023 (11.2%)
Sources of settlement: Virginia, Pennsylvania, and North Carolina

Wilmington

Namesake: Wilmington, Delaware

Founding: 1810 (platting, as Clinton); 1813 (post office); 1828 (incorporation)

Population (2010): 12,520

Population (historic): 235 (1820); 1,238 (1850); 2,745 (1880); 5,332 (1930)

Periods of population growth: 1820–1850; 1860–1920; 1930–1970
Typology: Grid

First Courthouse

Location: Wilmington

Construction: 1812–1813

Years of service: 1813–1838

Typology: Cubic; brick; two-story

Style: Federal (?)

Builders: Jacob Hale and one Mr. Sayres

Cost: Unknown

Status: Razed

Features of note: Central cupola; brick cornice (perhaps corbelled). The building measured 40' by 40'.

Second Courthouse

Location: South Street and Main Street (Wilmington)

Construction: 1838–1839

Years of service: 1839–1915

Typology: Center-hall (side-gabled); brick; two-story

Style: Greek Revival

Architect: John B. Posey

Cost: Unknown

Status: Razed

Features of note: Six-by-three bay arrangement; pedimented gables; entablature with triglyphs and mutules; pedimented portico; bulging, smooth-sided Doric columns; rectangular lintels and sills; six-over-six windows; round-arched side doorway with entablature.

For photos, see this page.

Third Courthouse

Location: 46 South South Street (Wilmington)

Construction: 1915–1919

Years of service: 1919–

Typology: Monumental (axial); stone; three-story

Style: Classical Revival

Architects: Weber, Werner, and Adkins

Cost: $300,000 ($4,332,138 in 2017 dollars)

Status: Extant; functional

Features of note: Central dome; projecting central sections; rooftop balustrade; wide entablature with modillions and wreaths; inset windows; scored stonework; carved panels between windows; inset central bays with Corinthian columns in antis; arcaded entry.


Sources: Wikipedia; Courthouse History; United States Census Bureau; History of Clinton County, Ohio (Bowen, 1915).