Noble County, Ohio

Founding: April 1, 1851
Parent counties: Guernsey, Monroe, Morgan, and Washington

Namesake: Disputed—either James Noble or Warren Noble, both settlers
Seat: Sarahsville (1851–1858); Caldwell (1858–)

Land area: 398 square miles

Population (2010): 14,645

Population (historic): 20,751 (1860); 19,466 (1900); 14,961 (1930); 10,428 (1970)

Periods of population growth: pre-1860; 1870s; 1990s

Subdivisions: Six villages; 15 townships

National Register listings: Nine

Income (per capita): $20,029

Income (median household): $39,500
Business establishments: 217 (67.5 people per business)
Pre-1939 residences (estimated): 1,659 (27.5%)
Vacant houses: 1,121 (18.6%)
Sources of settlement: Pennsylvania, Virginia, Germany, and Maryland

Caldwell

Namesake: The Caldwell family, who owned the village site

Founding: 1857 (platting); 1859 (post office)

Population (2010): 1,748

Population (historic): 318 (1870); 927 (1900); 1,778 (1930)

Periods of population growth: 1860–1890; 1900–1920; 1950s; 1990s
Typology: Grid (with public square)

Courthouse Prehistory

- Between 1851 and 1857, the Noble County government convened in a makeshift jail erected at Sarahsville, the first seat. After Caldwell's founding, officials moved into a frame building across the street from the present courthouse's site.

- In the county's early years, voters clashed about the ideal location for the seat of government. Some partisans favored Sarahsville; others preferred the platting of a new community on land owned by the Caldwell family. After much bickering, the pro-Caldwell faction triumphed.

First Courthouse

Location: Courthouse Square (Caldwell)

Construction: 1858–1859

Years of service: 1859–1933

Typology: Front-gabled; brick; two-story

Style: Italianate

Architect: Thomas Drake

Cost: $13,000 ($373,955 in 2017 dollars)

Status: Razed

Features of note: Square cupola; cornice returns; cornice brackets; dormers; tall second floor; paired windows with projecting cornices; doorway with entablature.

Second Courthouse

Photo by Tim Kiser.

Location: 260 Courthouse Square (Caldwell)

Construction: 1933–1934

Years of service: 1934–

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

Style: Federal Revival; "Starved Classical"

Architect: Thomas J. Marr

Cost: Unknown

Status: Extant; functional

Features of note: Flat roof; Flemish-bond brickwork; jack-arched twelve-over-twelve windows; keystones and stone voussoirs; slightly projecting central section with stone trim, Ionic pilasters, entablature, and window pediments (some broken, with urns); arcaded entry with scored stonework.


Sources: Wikipedia; Courthouse History; United States Census Bureau; History of Noble County, Ohio (Watkins, 1887).