Mercer County, Ohio

Founding:  January 2, 1824 (declared in 1820)
Parent county: Unorganized territory

Namesake: Hugh Mercer (1726–1777), Revolutionary War soldier
Seat: St. Marys (1824–1839); Celina (1839–)

Land area: 462 square miles

Population (2010): 40,814

Population (historic): 1,110 (1830); 14,104 (1860); 28,021 (1900); 25,096 (1930)

Periods of population growth: 1820–1840; 1850–1890; 1950–1980

Subdivisions: One city; seven villages; 14 townships

National Register listings: 29

Income (per capita): $22,348

Income (median household): $49,719
Business establishments: 950 (43 people per business)
Pre-1939 residences (estimated): 3,578 (20.3%)
Vacant houses: 1,732 (9.8%)
Sources of settlement: Germany and Pennsylvania

Celina

Namesake: Salina, New York

Founding: 1834 (platting); 1840 (post office)

Population (2010): 10,400

Population (historic): 222 (1850); 1,346 (1880); 2,815 (1900); 4,664 (1930)

Periods of population growth: 1860–1890; 1900–1930; 1940–1960; 1970s
Typology: Grid (with courthouse square)

First Courthouse

Location: St. Marys

Construction: 1828–1829

Years of service: 1829–1839

Typology: Unknown; braced-frame; two-story

Style: None

Builder: W. McCluney

Cost: $291 ($6,793 in 2017 dollars)

Status: Razed

Features of note: Appearance unknown. The structure measured 24' by 20'.

Second Courthouse

Location: Celina

Construction: 1839–1841

Years of service: 1841–1866

Typology: Unknown; brick; two-story

Style: Unknown

Builders: Samuel Hunter and John McGee

Cost: $1,350 ($32,593 in 2017 dollars)

Status: Razed

Features of note: Appearance unknown.

Third Courthouse

Location: North Main Street (Celina)

Construction: 1866–1868

Years of service: 1868–1923

Typology: Center-hall (irregular); brick; two-story

Style: Italianate

Architect: Rumbaugh

Cost: $43,773 ($818,594 in 2017 dollars)

Status: Razed

Features of note: Mansard-roofed corner towers; cornice brackets; frieze board; varied window treatments (round arches and projecting cornices); elongated four-over-four windows; doorway with arched entablature and fanlight.

For an illustration, see this page.

Fourth Courthouse

Photo by Derek Jensen.

Location: 101 North Main Street (Celina)

Construction: 1923

Years of service: 1923–

Typology: Monumental (axial); stone; three-story

Style: Classical Revival

Architect: Peter Hulsken

Cost: Unknown

Status: Extant; functional

Features of note: Roof parapet; denticulate entablature; portico; carved medallions; smooth-sided Ionic columns; pilasters dividing bays; casement windows.

Sources: Wikipedia; Courthouse History; United States Census Bureau; History of Mercer County, Ohio, and Representative Citizens (Biographical Publishing, 1907).