Highland County, Ohio

Founding: May 1, 1805
Parent counties: Adams, Clermont, and Ross

Named for: The county's elevated terrain
Seats: New Market (1805–1807); Hillsboro (1807–)

Land area: 553 square miles

Population (2010): 43,589

Population (historic): 5,766 (1810); 25,781 (1850); 30,281 (1880); 25,416 (1930)

Periods of population growth: 1810–1870; 1970s; 1990s

Subdivisions: One city; six villages; three CDPs; 17 townships

National Register listings: 26

Income (per capita): $18,966

Income (median household): $39,844
Business establishments: 674 (64.7 people per business)
Pre-1939 residences (estimated): 3,786 (19.6%)
Vacant houses: 2,469 (12.8%)
Sources of settlement: Virginia, Pennsylvania, Northern Ireland, and France

Hillsboro

Named for: The city's rolling terrain

Founding: 1807 (platting); 1809 (post office)

Population (2010): 6,605

Population (historic): 220 (1810); 1,021 (1840); 3,234 (1880); 4,040 (1930)

Periods of population growth: 1810s; 1830–1900; 1930s; 1970s
Typology: Grid (with courthouse square)

First Courthouse

Location: North High Street (Hillsboro)

Construction: 1808

Years of service: 1808–1834

Typology: Cubic; brick; two-story

Style: Federal (?)

Architect: John Shields

Cost: Unknown

Status: Razed

Features of note: Central cupola. The building measured about 40' by 40'. One county history contains a detailed description of the interior.

Second Courthouse

Location: 105 North High Street (Hillsboro)

Construction: 1832–1834 / 1883–1884

Years of service: 1834–

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

Style: Greek Revival / Federal

Architect: Jonathan Henry

Cost: Unknown

Status: Extant; functional

Features of note: Octagonal tower with round-arched louvers; pediment; Greek key; modillions; round-arched side recesses; smooth-sided Ionic columns; Flemish-bond brickwork; rectangular lintels and sills; six-over-six windows; doorway with fanlight and sandstone surround.

More photos.


Sources: Wikipedia; Courthouse History; United States Census Bureau; A History of the Early Settlement of Highland County, Ohio (Hillsborough Gazette, 1890).