Ottawa County, Ohio

Founding: March 6, 1840
Parent counties: Erie, Lucas, and Sandusky

Namesake: The Ottawa people
Seat: Port Clinton (1840–)

Land area: 255 square miles

Population (2010): 41,428

Population (historic): 2,248 (1840); 19,762 (1880); 24,109 (1930)

Periods of population growth: 1840–1880; 1940–1960

Subdivisions: One city; seven villages; three CDPs; 12 townships

National Register listings: 29

Income (per capita): $27,809

Income (median household): $53,463
Business establishments: 1,019 (40.7 people per business)
Pre-1939 residences (estimated): 5,601 (20%)
Vacant houses: 10,584 (37.9%)
Sources of settlement: Germany, Pennsylvania, and New York

Port Clinton

Namesake: DeWitt Clinton (1769–1828), sixth New York governor

Founding: 1828 (platting); 1840 (post office)

Population (2010): 6,056

Population (historic): 249 (1850); 1,600 (1880); 4,408 (1930)

Periods of population growth: 1870–1930; 1940–1960
Typology: Grid

First Courthouse

Location: Madison Street (Port Clinton)

Construction: 1840

Years of service: 1840–1898

Typology: Cubic; brick; two-story

Style: Greek Revival

Builder: Unknown

Cost: Unknown

Status: Razed

Features of note: Central dome; parapeted roof; five-bay facade; inset central bay; rectangular lintels and sills; six-over-six windows.

For a photo, see this page.

Second Courthouse

Photo by LeeG7144.

Location: 315 Madison Street (Port Clinton)

Construction: 1898–1901

Years of service: 1901–

Typology: Axial; stone; three-story

Style: Richardsonian Romanesque

Architect: Wing and Mahurin

Cost: Unknown

Status: Extant; functional

Features of note: Lofty central clock tower; parapeted gables; finials; cornice brackets; round-arched windows; voussoirs; projecting corner blocks; carved panels between windows; inset, segmental-arched entry.


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