Huron County, Ohio



Founding: April 1, 1815 (declared in 1809)
Parent counties: Cuyahoga and Portage
Namesake: The Huron (or Wyandot) people
Seat: Avery (1815–1821); Norwalk (1821–)
Land area: 491 square miles
Population (2010): 59,626
Population (historic): 6,675 (1820); 29,616 (1860); 31,949 (1890); 33,700 (1930)
Periods of population growth: 1810–1840; 1850s; 1870s; 1940–1960; 1970s
Subdivisions: Three cities; seven villages; four CDPs; 19 townships
National Register listings: 16
Income (per capita): $21,743
Income (median household): $47,058
Business establishments: 1,136 (52.5 people per business)
Pre-1939 residences (estimated): 7,388 (29.4%)
Vacant houses: 2,643 (10.5%)
Sources of settlement: New York, Connecticut, Germany, Ireland, and Pennsylvania

Norwalk

Namesake: Norwalk, Connecticut
Founding: 1817 (platting); 1818 (post office)
Population (2010): 17,012
Population (historic): 179 (1820); 2,839 (1860); 7,195 (1890); 7,776 (1930)
Periods of population growth: 1830–1890; 1900s; 1940–1960; 1990s
Typology: Irregular

Courthouse Prehistory

- Until the county government's relocation to Norwalk, officials met at the house of David Abbott, in Avery.

First Courthouse

Location: East Main Street (Norwalk)
Construction: 1818
Years of service: 1818–1837
Typology: Unknown; braced-frame; two-story
Style: Unknown
Builder: David Underhill
Cost: $848 ($13,776 in 2017 dollars)
Status: Razed
Features of note: Appearance unknown. Apparently, the structure measured 40' by 30'.

Second Courthouse

Location: East Main Street (Norwalk)
Construction: 1837
Years of service: 1837–1881
Typology: Front-gabled (temple-form); brick; two-story
Style: Greek Revival
Builder: Unknown
Cost: Unknown
Status: Razed
Features of note: Octagonal tower; pedimented portico; frieze windows or vents; round-arched side recesses.

For an illustration, see this book.

Third Courthouse

Location: East Main Street (Norwalk)
Construction: 1881–1882
Years of service: 1882–1912
Typology: Axial (rectangular); brick; two-story
Style: Classical Revival
Architect: David W. Gibbs
Cost: Unknown
Status: Razed (burned in 1912)
Features of note: Massive clock tower with modillion-adorned cornice and balustrade; rooftop balustrade; denticulate entablature; central pediment; tympanum carvings; pilasters; round-arched windows with keystones; string course.

For photos, see this page.

Fourth Courthouse



Location: 2 East Main Street (Norwalk)
Construction: 1913
Years of service: 1913–
Typology: Axial (rectangular); stone; two-story
Style: Beaux-Arts
Architect: Vernon Redding
Cost: Unknown
Status: Extant; functional
Features of note: Lofty clock tower with dome; parapeted roof; denticulate entablature; projecting central bay; five-bay facade; Doric columns in antis; varied window treatments (rectangular, round-arched, and segmental-arched); keystones; divided bays; scored first-floor stonework.

More photos.


Sources: Wikipedia; Courthouse History; United States Census Bureau; Huron County Commissioners; History of Huron County, Ohio (Clarke, 1909).

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