Greene County, Ohio
Founding: May 1, 1803
Parent counties: Hamilton and Ross
Namesake: Nathanael Greene (1742–1786), Revolutionary War general
Seat: Beaver Creek Township (1803–1804); Xenia (1804–)
Seat: Beaver Creek Township (1803–1804); Xenia (1804–)
Land area: 414 square miles
Population (2010): 161,573
Population (historic): 5,870 (1810); 21,946 (1850); 31,649 (1880); 33,259 (1930)
Periods of population growth: 1800–1880; 1890s; 1940–1970; 2000s
Subdivisions: Four cities; six villages; three CDPs; 12 townships
National Register listings: 41
Income (per capita): $28,328
Income (median household): $56,679
Business establishments: 3,020 (53.5 people per business)
Pre-1939 residences (estimated): 6,503 (9.5%)
Vacant houses: 5,203 (7.6%)
Sources of settlement: Virginia, Pennsylvania, Kentucky, Maryland, and New Jersey
Business establishments: 3,020 (53.5 people per business)
Pre-1939 residences (estimated): 6,503 (9.5%)
Vacant houses: 5,203 (7.6%)
Sources of settlement: Virginia, Pennsylvania, Kentucky, Maryland, and New Jersey
Xenia
Founding: 1803 (platting); 1805 (post office); 1817 (incorporation)
Population (2010): 25,719
Population (historic): 429 (1810); 3,024 (1850); 7,026 (1880); 10,507 (1930)
Periods of population growth: 1810–1880; 1890s; 1920s; 1940–1970; 2000s
Typology: Grid (with off-center courthouse square)
- In 1803 and 1804, Greene County's government met at a single-pen log house built (in 1799) by Benjamin Whiteman. Miraculously, this structure survived until at least 1846, when Henry Howe sketched it for his Historical Collections of Ohio.
- A two-story log tavern, erected by William Beatty, housed the Greene County court between 1804 and 1809.
- Between 1833 and 1843, officials convened in a county-owned office building.
Typology: Grid (with off-center courthouse square)
Courthouse Prehistory
- In 1803 and 1804, Greene County's government met at a single-pen log house built (in 1799) by Benjamin Whiteman. Miraculously, this structure survived until at least 1846, when Henry Howe sketched it for his Historical Collections of Ohio.
- A two-story log tavern, erected by William Beatty, housed the Greene County court between 1804 and 1809.
- Between 1833 and 1843, officials convened in a county-owned office building.
First Courthouse
Location: Main Street and Detroit Street (Xenia)
Construction: 1806–1809
Years of service: 1809–1833
Typology: Cubic; brick; two-story
Style: Federal (?)
Builder: William Kendall
Cost: $3,396 ($53,922 in 2017 dollars)
Status: Razed
Features of note: Central cupola. The structure measured 40' by 40'.
Sources: Wikipedia; Courthouse History; United States Census Bureau; History of Greene County, Ohio (Bowen, 1918).
Second Courthouse
Location: Main Street and Detroit Street (Xenia)
Construction: 1842–1843
Years of service: 1843–1901
Typology: Front-gabled (temple-form); brick; two-story
Style: Greek Revival
Builders: Rader, Robinson, and Turnbull
Cost: Unknown
Status: Razed
Features of note: Clock tower; pedimented portico; Ionic columns; wide entablature; rectangular lintels and sills; six-over-six windows; operable shutters.
For a photo, see this book.
For a photo, see this book.
Third Courthouse
Location: 45 North Detroit Street (Xenia)
Construction: 1901–1902
Years of service: 1902–
Typology: Axial (rectangular); stone; two-and-a-half-story
Style: Richardsonian Romanesque
Architect: Samuel Hannaford
Cost: $191,765 ($5,511,138 in 2017 dollars)
Status: Extant; functional
Features of note: Corner clock tower with corner finials; cross-tipped finials; three-bay facade; projecting central bay; corbelled cornice; round-arched windows; parapeted gables; arcaded entry; balustrade; bundled columns with floral capitals.
Sources: Wikipedia; Courthouse History; United States Census Bureau; History of Greene County, Ohio (Bowen, 1918).
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