Madison County, Ohio

Founding: March 1, 1810
Parent county: Franklin

Namesake: James Madison (1751–1836), Founding Father and U.S. president
Seat: London (1810–)

Land area: 466 square miles

Population (2010): 43,435

Population (historic): 1,603 (1810); 10,015 (1850); 20,129 (1880); 20,253 (1930)

Periods of population growth: 1810–1880; 1930s; 1950s; 1970–1990

Subdivisions: One city; five villages; three CDPs; 14 townships

National Register listings: 11

Income (per capita): $23,980

Income (median household): $50,533
Business establishments: 675 (64.3 people per business)
Pre-1939 residences (estimated): 3,096 (19.5%)
Vacant houses: 1,228 (7.7%)
Sources of settlement: Virginia, Ireland, Maryland, Pennsylvania, and Vermont

London

Namesake: London, England

Founding: 1810 (platting); 1813 (post office); 1831 (incorporation)

Population (2010): 9,904

Population (historic): 132 (1820); 1,152 (1860); 3,511 (1900); 4,141 (1930)

Periods of population growth: 1840–1880; 1910s; 1930–1960; 1980–2010
Typology: Grid (with courthouse square)

First Courthouse

Location: London

Construction: 1811 (?)

Years of service: 1811–1816

Typology: Single-pen; log; two-story

Style: None

Builder: Uriah Humble

Cost: Unknown

Status: Razed

Features of note: Appearance unknown.

Second Courthouse

Location: North Main Street (London)

Construction: 1816

Years of service: 1816–1853

Typology: Cubic; brick; two-story

Style: Federal (?)

Builders: Nathan and Benjamin Bond

Cost: $7,782 ($113,968 in 2017 dollars)

Status: Razed

Features of note: Central cupola; three-bay facade; centered gables; fanlights.

For an illustration, see this page.

Third Courthouse

Illustration from Caldwell's Atlas of Madison Co., Ohio (1875).

Location: North Main Street (London)

Construction: 1853–1855

Years of service: 1855–1890

Typology: Axial; brick; three-story (with raised basement)

Style: Greek Revival

Architect: A.E. Trumbull

Cost: $26,975 ($807,070 in 2017 dollars)

Status: Razed

Features of note: Central tower; hip roof; entablature; corner pilasters; two-story recesses with Ionic columns in antis; rectangular lintels and sills; six-over-six windows; exterior steps leading to second floor.

Fourth Courthouse

Location: 1 North Main Street (London)

Construction: 1890–1892

Years of service: 1892–

Typology: Axial (irregular, T-shaped); stone; two-and-a-half-story (with raised basement)

Style: Second Empire / Beaux-Arts

Architect: George H. Maetzel

Cost: $127,000 ($3,516,498 in 2017 dollars)

Status: Extant; functional

Features of note: Ornate clock tower with projecting pediments; scored attic-level stonework; convex mansard roof; pediment dormers with circular and round-arched windows; pediment (topped by a statue of Lady Justice); wide entablature; cornice brackets; varied window treatments (pedimented surrounds, round arches, keystones, drip moldings, and whatnot); recessed bays; Corinthian columns; contrasting ashlar and rusticated stonework.

More photos.


Sources: Wikipedia; Courthouse History; United States Census Bureau; History of Madison County, Ohio (Bowen, 1915).