Morgan County, Ohio

Founding: March 1, 1819 (declared in 1817)
Parent counties: Guernsey, Muskingum, and Washington

Namesake: Daniel Morgan (1736–1802), Revolutionary War general
Seat: McConnelsville (1819–)

Land area: 416 square miles

Population (2010): 15,054

Population (historic): 5,297 (1820); 22,119 (1860); 17,905 (1900); 13,583 (1930)

Periods of population growth: 1810–1850; 1970s

Subdivisions: Four villages; one CDP; 14 townships

National Register listings: Six

Income (per capita): $18,777

Income (median household): $34,962
Business establishments: 164 (91.8 people per business)
Pre-1939 residences (estimated): 2,118 (27%)
Vacant houses: 1,802 (22.9%)
Sources of settlement: Pennsylvania, Virginia, Maryland, and Ireland

McConnelsville

Namesake: Robert McConnell, owner of the town's site

Founding: 1817 (platting); 1819 (post office)

Population (2010): 1,784

Population (historic): 151 (1820); 1,486 (1860); 1,825 (1900); 1,754 (1930)

Periods of population growth: 1830–1850; 1860s; 1880s; 1950s
Typology: Grid (with interrupting public square)

First Courthouse

Location: East Main Street (McConnelsville)

Construction: Unknown

Years of service: ?–1858

Typology: Cubic; brick; two-story

Style: Federal (?)

Architect: Unknown

Cost: Unknown

Status: Razed

Features of note: Three-bay facade.

For an illustration, see this book.

Second Courthouse

Photo by Tim Kiser.

Location: 37 East Main Street (McConnelsville)

Construction: 1858 / 1886 / 1960

Years of service: 1858–

Typology: Axial (rectangular); brick; two-story

Style: Italianate / Second Empire

Architect: William Johnson

Cost: Unknown

Status: Extant; functional

Features of note: Mansard-roofed clock tower; slate roof; paneled entablature with paired cornice brackets; portico; corner pilasters; smooth-sided Doric columns; three-bay facade; rectangular lintels and sills; six-over-six windows; pedimented doorway.


Sources: Wikipedia; Courthouse History; United States Census Bureau; Ohio Supreme Court website.