Lorain County, Ohio

Founding: April 1, 1824 (declared in 1822)
Parent counties: Cuyahoga, Huron, and Medina

Namesake: The French province of Lorraine
Seat: Elyria (1824–)

Land area: 491 square miles

Population (2010): 301,356

Population (historic): 5,696 (1830); 29,744 (1860); 54,857 (1900); 109,206 (1930)

Periods of population growth: 1820–1860; 1870–1930; 1940–1970

Subdivisions: Eight cities; seven villages; two CDPs; 18 townships

National Register listings: 121

Income (per capita): $25,002

Income (median household): $52,066
Business establishments: 5,533 (54.5 people per business)
Pre-1939 residences (estimated): 20,073 (15.7%)
Vacant houses: 10,767 (8.4%)
Sources of settlement: New York, England, Germany, Connecticut, and Ireland

Elyria

Namesake: Heman Ely, the city's founder (perhaps a reference to classical Illyria, also)

Founding: 1817 (platting); 1824 (post office)

Population (2010): 54,533

Population (historic): 168 (1830); 1,613 (1860); 8,791 (1900); 25,633 (1930)

Periods of population growth: 1830–1850; 1860–1930; 1940–1970
Typology: Grid (with central public square)

First Courthouse

Location: Main Street and Cheapside Street (Elyria)

Construction: 1823–1824

Years of service: 1824–1830s (?)

Typology: Unknown; braced-frame; one-story

Style: Unknown

Builder: Herman Ely

Cost: Unknown

Status: Razed

Features of note: Appearance unknown.

Second Courthouse

Location: 2nd Street (Elyria)

Construction: Unknown

Years of service: ?–1881

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

Style: Greek Revival

Builder: Unknown

Cost: Unknown

Status: Razed

Features of note: Octagonal central cupola; pedimented portico; Doric columns.

For an illustration, see this book.

Third Courthouse

Photo by Derek Jensen.

Location: 308 2nd Street (Elyria)

Construction: 1881

Years of service: 1881–

Typology: Axial (rectangular); stone; three-story (with elevated basement)

Style: Classical Revival

Architect: Elijah E. Myers

Cost: Unknown

Status: Extant; functional

Features of note: Rooftop balustrade; denticulate entablature; modillions; pedimented portico; Corinthian columns; recessed windows with cornices and pediments; corner pilasters; scored first-floor stonework; arcaded entry.

Sources: Wikipedia; Courthouse History; United States Census Bureau; A Standard History of Lorain County, Ohio: Volume I (Lewis, 1916).