Fayette County, Ohio

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

Namesake: The Marquis de Lafayette (1757–1834), Revolutionary War hero
Seat: Washington Court House (1810–)

Land area: 406 square miles

Population (2010): 29,030

Population (historic): 1,854 (1810); 12,726 (1850); 20,364 (1880); 20,755 (1930)

Periods of population growth: 1810–1860; 1870s; 1950s; 1970s

Subdivisions: One city; four villages; two CDPs; 10 townships

National Register listings: 17

Income (per capita): $20,525

Income (median household): $39,599
Business establishments: 581 (50 people per business)
Pre-1939 residences (estimated): 2,892 (22.8%)
Vacant houses: 1,139 (9%)
Sources of settlement: Virginia and Pennsylvania

Washington Court House

Namesake: George Washington (1732–1799), Founding Father and U.S. president

Founding: 1810 (platting); 1813 (post office); 1831 (incorporation)

Population (2010): 14,192

Population (historic): 191 (1820); 1,035 (1860); 5,751 (1900); 8,426 (1930)

Periods of population growth: 1850–1890; 1900s; 1930–1960
Typology: Grid

First Courthouse

Location: Washington Court House

Construction: 1813–1814

Years of service: 1814–1828

Typology: Cubic; brick; two-story

Style: Unknown

Builder: Unknown

Cost: Unknown

Status: Razed (burned in 1828)

Features of note: Central cupola.

Second Courthouse

Photo from Fayette County, Ohio: A Pictorial History. Digitized by Christopher Busta-Peck.

Location: East Court Street (Washington Court House)

Construction: 1828–1830 / 1844 / 1848

Years of service: 1830–1885

Typology: Cubic (with wings); brick; two-story

Style: Federal

Builder: Thomas Laughead

Cost: Unknown

Status: Razed

Features of note: Central louvered cupola; three-bay facade; round-arched window recesses; six-over-six windows. The building measured 40' by 40'.

Third Courthouse

Location: 110 East Court Street (Washington Court House)

Construction: 1882–1885

Years of service: 1885–

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

Style: Classical Revival / Romanesque

Architect: David W. Gibbs

Cost: $140,000 ($3,876,454 in 2017 dollars)

Status: Extant; functional

Features of note: Central clock tower (topped by a statue of Lady Justice); pedimented second-story porches; entablature; modillions; second-floor Corinthian pilasters; ornate tympanum carvings; triple-hung windows; rusticated first-floor stonework; round-arched windows; round-arched entry; balustrade; circular medallions with carved faces.

More photos.


Sources: Wikipedia; Courthouse History; United States Census Bureau; History of Fayette County, Ohio (Bowen, 1914).