Marion County, Ohio

Founding: May 1, 1824 (declared in 1820)
Parent county: Delaware

Namesake: Francis Marion (c. 1732–1795), Revolutionary War officer
Seat: Marion (1824–)

Land area: 404 square miles

Population (2010): 66,501

Population (historic): 6,551 (1830); 15,490 (1860); 28,678 (1900); 45,420 (1930)

Periods of population growth: 1820–1840; 1850s; 1870–1920; 1940–1960

Subdivisions: One city; seven villages; 15 townships

National Register listings: 15

Income (per capita): $19,849

Income (median household): $40,511
Business establishments: 1,130 (58.9 people per business)
Pre-1939 residences (estimated): 8,976 (32.3%)
Vacant houses: 3,211 (11.6%)
Sources of settlement: Pennsylvania, Germany, New York, Virginia, Ireland, and England

Marion

Namesake: Francis Marion (c. 1732–1795), Revolutionary War officer

Founding: 1822 (platting); 1821 (post office)

Population (2010): 36,837

Population (historic): 287 (1830); 1,844 (1860); 11,862 (1900); 31,084 (1930)

Periods of population growth: 1830–1930; 1940–1960
Typology: Grid

First Courthouse

Location: Marion

Construction: 1828

Years of service: 1828–1833

Typology: Single-pen; brick; one-story

Style: Unknown

Builder: Unknown

Cost: Unknown

Status: Razed

Features of note: Appearance unknown. The structure measured 20' by 16'.

Second Courthouse

Location: Marion

Construction: 1831–1833

Years of service: 1833–1884

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

Style: Greek Revival

Builder: Solomon Zeller

Cost: $5,779 ($148,893 in 2017 dollars)

Status: Razed

Features of note: Octagonal cupola; pedimented portico; mutules and triglyphs; three-bay facade; round-arched recesses; fluted Doric columns; rectangular lintels and sills; twelve-over-twelve windows; operable shutters.

For an illustration, see this page.

Third Courthouse

Photo by OHWiki.

Location: 100 North Main Street (Marion)

Construction: 1884–1886

Years of service: 1886–

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

Style: Beaux-Arts / Romanesque

Architect: David W. Gibbs

Cost: Unknown

Status: Extant; functional

Features of note: Central clock tower (topped by a statue of Lady Justice); pedimented second-story porches; entablature; modillions; second-floor Corinthian pilasters; ornate tympanum carvings; triple-hung windows; rusticated first-floor stonework; round-arched windows; round-arched entry; balustrade; circular medallions with carved faces. Almost identical to the Fayette County Courthouse.



Sources: Wikipedia; Courthouse History; United States Census Bureau; The History of Marion County, Ohio (Leggett and Conaway, 1883).