Monroe County, Ohio

Founding: March 1, 1815
Parent counties: Belmont, Guernsey, and Washington

Namesake: James Monroe (1758–1831), fifth U.S. president
Seat: Woodsfield (1815–)

Land area: 456 square miles

Population (2010): 14,642

Population (historic): 4,645 (1820); 25,741 (1860); 27,031 (1900); 18,426 (1930)

Periods of population growth: 1820–1850; 1890s; 1970s

Subdivisions: 11 villages; two CDPs; 18 townships

National Register listings: 10

Income (per capita): $18,738

Income (median household): $37,030
Business establishments: 254 (57.6 people per business)
Pre-1939 residences (estimated): 2,407 (32%)
Vacant houses: 1,469 (19.5%)
Sources of settlement: Pennsylvania, Germany, Virginia, Switzerland, and Maryland

Woodsfield

Namesake: Archibald Woods, local landowner

Founding: 1813 (platting); 1815 (post office); 1835 (incorporation)

Population (2010): 2,384

Population (historic): 81 (1820); 393 (1850); 861 (1880); 2,317 (1930)

Periods of population growth: 1820–1860; 1870–1910; 1960s
Typology: Linear (irregular, with interrupting public square)

First Courthouse

No information available.

Second Courthouse

Location: Main Street (Woodsfield)

Construction: Unknown

Years of service: ?–1867

Typology: Cubic; brick; two-story

Style: Federal (?)

Builder: Unknown

Cost: Unknown

Status: Razed

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

For an illustration, see this book.

Third Courthouse

Location: Main Street (Woodsfield)

Construction: 1867–1868

Years of service: 1868–1905

Typology: Front-gabled; brick; two-story

Style: Italianate

Builder: W.W. McCoy

Cost: Unknown

Status: Razed (burned in 1905)

Features of note: Central cupola; cornice brackets; circular attic window; round-arched recesses; elongated, round-arched windows with stone hoodmolds.

For a photo, see this page.

Fourth Courthouse

Photo by B.W. Smith.

Location: 101 North Main Street (Woodsfield)

Construction: 1905–1908

Years of service: 1908–

Typology: Axial; brick and stone; three-story

Style: Classical Revival

Architect: Samuel Hannaford

Cost: Unknown

Status: Extant; functional

Features of note: Octagonal clock tower with copper dome, pediments, arcading, keystones, quoins, and columns in antis; parapeted roof; denticulate entablature; Ionic columns; pilasters; quoin-like corner brickwork; splayed lintels; first-floor rusticated stonework; split-level entry; intricately carved entry surround.


Sources: Wikipedia; Courthouse History; United States Census Bureau.