Hancock County, Ohio

Founding: March 1, 1828 (declared in 1820)
Parent county: Unorganized territory

Namesake: John Hancock (1737–1793), Founding Father
Seat: Findlay (1828–)

Land area: 531 square miles

Population (2010): 74,782

Population (historic): 813 (1830); 22,886 (1860); 41,993 (1900); 40,404 (1930)

Periods of population growth: 1830–1860; 1870–1890; 1940–1970

Subdivisions: Two cities; 11 villages; 17 townships

National Register listings: 12

Income (per capita): $25,158

Income (median household): $49,070
Business establishments: 1,706 (43.8 people per business)
Pre-1939 residences (estimated): 8,973 (27%)
Vacant houses: 2,426 (7.3%)
Sources of settlement: Pennsylvania, Germany, Virginia, and Maryland

Findlay

Namesake: Fort Findlay, which once occupied the city's site

Founding: 1821 (platting)

Population (2010): 41,202

Population (historic): 469 (1840); 3,315 (1870); 17,613 (1900); 19,363 (1930)

Periods of population growth: 1830–1890; 1910–1930; 1940–1970
Typology: Grid

First Courthouse

Location: Findlay

Construction: 1833

Years of service: 1833–1840

Typology: "I" house; braced-frame; two-story

Style: Greek Revival (?)

Builders: William Taylor, Frederick Henderson, and Jonathan Parker

Cost: Unknown

Status: Razed

Features of note: Five-bay facade; trabeated doorway with entablature.

For illustrations, see this page.

Second Courthouse

Location: Main Street (Findlay)

Construction: 1840–1842

Years of service: 1842–1885

Typology: Front-gabled (temple-form); brick; two-story

Style: Greek Revival

Builder: John McCurdy

Cost: Unknown

Status: Razed

Features of note: Octagonal cupola; pedimented portico; entablature; half-lunette attic vent; Doric columns; round-arched recesses; three-bay facade.

For illustrations, see this page.

Third Courthouse

Photo by Ruhrfisch.

Location: 300 South Main Street (Findlay)

Construction: 1885–1888

Years of service: 1888–

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

Style: Classical Revival / Romanesque

Architects: Weary and Kramer

Cost: $305,273 ($8,452,691 in 2017 dollars)

Status: Extant; functional

Features of note: Pedimented, domed clock tower; several bronze statues; projecting bays; entablature; modillions; pediments with intricately carved tympana; paired Corinthian pilasters; cornice dividing first and second floors; round-arched windows; porch with balustrade.


Sources: Wikipedia; Courthouse History; United States Census Bureau.