Fulton County, Ohio

Founding: April 1, 1850
Parent county: Lucas and Williams

Namesake: Robert Fulton (1765–1815), inventor of the steamboat
Seats: Ottokee (1850–1871); Wauseon (1871–)

Land area: 405 square miles

Population (2010): 42,698

Population (historic): 7,781 (1850); 21,053 (1880); 22,801 (1900); 23,477 (1930)

Periods of population growth: 1850–1880; 1950–1980; 1990s

Subdivisions: One city; six villages; two CDPs; 12 townships

National Register listings: Six

Income (per capita): $22,804

Income (median household): $50,717
Business establishments: 939 (45.5 people per business)
Pre-1939 residences (estimated): 4,967 (28.6%)
Vacant houses: 1,062 (6.1%)
Sources of settlement: New York, Pennsylvania, Germany, and Switzerland

Wauseon

Namesake: Wauseon, Potawatomi chief

Founding: 1854 (platting); 1854 (post office); 1859 (incorporation)

Population (2010): 7,332

Population (historic): 378 (1860); 1,905 (1880); 3,035 (1910)

Periods of population growth: 1860–1880; 1900–1920; 1940–1980; 1990s
Typology: Grid (irregular; aligned with railroad)

Courthouse Prehistory

- In 1850, Fulton County's nascent government met at the house of one Robert A. Howard.

First Courthouse

Location: County Road J (Ottokee)

Construction: 1851

Years of service: 1851–1864

Typology: Unknown (likely front-gabled); frame; two-story

Style: Unknown (perhaps Greek Revival)

Builder: Amos H. Jordan

Cost: Unknown

Status: Razed (burned in 1864)

Features of note: One source gives dimensions of 50' by 80' and describe the structure as "commodious and airy . . . with a large dome on the top."

Second Courthouse

Location: County Road J (Ottokee)

Construction: 1865

Years of service: 1865–1872

Typology: Front-gabled (?); brick; one-story

Style: None

Builder: Hiram Pritchard

Cost: Unknown

Status: Extant (?)

Features of note: Rusticated-stone foundation; segmental-arched windows; divided bays.

One building in Ottokee matches descriptions of the courthouse. The structure housed only a courtroom; county offices existed elsewhere. After 1872, the ex-courthouse functioned as an infirmary.

Third Courthouse

Location: 210 South Fulton Street (Wauseon)

Construction: 1870–1872

Years of service: 1872–

Typology: Center-hall; brick; two-story (with basement)

Style: Italianate

Architect: C.C. Miller

Cost: $45,772 ($951,456 in 2017 dollars)

Status: Extant; functional

Features of note: Low mansard roof; massive central tower with round-arched entrance; modillion-adorned cornice; brick entablature; recessed bays; segmental- and round-arched openings; two-over-two windows; stone hoodmolds and oversized keystones; above-entrance balcony supported by stone brackets; ornate clock tower with balustrade, paneled and bracketed cornice, round-arched recesses, massive hoodmolds, floral carvings, and trefoil-arched louvers.

More photos.

Sources: Wikipedia; Courthouse History; United States Census Bureau; The County of Fulton (Mikesell, 1905).