Hardin County, Ohio

Founding: March 1, 1833 (declared in 1820)
Parent county: Unorganized territory

Namesake: John Hardin (1753–1792), Virginia soldier
Seat: Kenton (1833–)

Land area: 470 square miles

Population (2010): 32,058

Population (historic): 4,598 (1840); 18,714 (1870); 31,187 (1900); 27,635 (1930)

Periods of population growth: 1830–1880; 1940s; 1970s

Subdivisions: One city; eight villages; one CDP; 15 townships

National Register listings: Seven

Income (per capita): $19,100

Income (median household): $41,343
Business establishments: 459 (69.8 people per business)
Pre-1939 residences (estimated): 4,261 (32.5%)
Vacant houses: 1,673 (12.8%)
Sources of settlement: Pennsylvania, Germany, Virginia, Switzerland, and New York

Kenton

Namesake: Simon Kenton (1755–1836), explorer

Founding: 1833 (platting); 1834 (post office); 1845 (incorporation)

Population (2010): 8,262

Population (historic): 299 (1840); 2,610 (1870); 6,852 (1900); 7,069 (1930)

Periods of population growth: 1840–1900; 1930–1950
Typology: Grid (with central courthouse square)

First Courthouse

Location: Main Street (Kenton)

Construction: 1834–1835

Years of service: 1835–1853

Typology: Center-hall; brick; two-story

Style: Unknown

Builders: John Williams, John Houser, and Boston Shawver

Cost: Unknown

Status: Razed (burned in 1853)

Features of note: Appearance unknown. The structure measured 40' by 30'.

Second Courthouse

Location: Public Square (Kenton)

Construction: 1853–1854

Years of service: 1854–1913

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

Style: Greek Revival

Builders: Kemp and Ayres

Cost: $17,200 ($476,491 in 2017 dollars)

Status: Razed

Features of note: Square clock tower; three-bay facade; pedimented portico; entablature; Ionic columns; rectangular lintels and sills; divided bays.

For an illustration, see this page.

Third Courthouse

Photo by Nyttend.

Location: 1 Courthouse Square (Kenton)

Construction: 1913–1915

Years of service: 1915–

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

Style: Classical Revival

Architect: Richard, McCarty, and Bulford

Cost: $275,000 ($6,766,782 in 2017 dollars)

Status: Extant; functional

Features of note: Rooftop balustrade; denticulate entablature; portico; Ionic columns; divided bays; scored first-floor stonework; arcaded entry.


Sources: Wikipedia; Courthouse History; United States Census Bureau; The History of Hardin County, Ohio (Warner and Beers, 1883).