Pickaway County, Ohio
Founding: March 1, 1810
Parent counties: Fairfield, Franklin, and Ross
Namesake: The Pekowi band of the Shawnee tribe
Seat: Circleville (1810–)
Seat: Circleville (1810–)
Land area: 501 square miles
Population (2010): 55,698
Population (historic): 7,124 (1810); 21,006 (1850); 27,415 (1880); 27,238 (1930)
Periods of population growth: 1810–1840; 1850s; 1870s; 1950s; 1980s
Subdivisions: One city; nine villages; three CDPs; 15 townships
National Register listings: 30
Income (per capita): $21,432
Income (median household): $49,262
Business establishments: 785 (71 people per business)
Pre-1939 residences (estimated): 4,252 (20.0%)
Vacant houses: 1,790 (8.4%)
Sources of settlement: Virginia, Pennsylvania, and Germany
Business establishments: 785 (71 people per business)
Pre-1939 residences (estimated): 4,252 (20.0%)
Vacant houses: 1,790 (8.4%)
Sources of settlement: Virginia, Pennsylvania, and Germany
Circleville
Founding: 1810 (platting); 1810 (post office); 1814 (incorporation)
Population (2010): 13,314
Population (historic): 908 (1820); 3,411 (1850); 6,046 (1880); 7,369 (1930)
Periods of population growth: 1810s; 1830–1900; 1940–1960; 1990s
Typology: Grid
Circleville's original plat was, in fact, circular. The city's founders chose to build their community atop (and within) a ring-shaped earthwork of considerable size. The resulting layout, while unique, irritated a great many residents, and the namesake circle was "squared," in stages, between 1838 and 1856.
- Between 1810 and 1814, Pickaway County officials met at Jacob Zeiger's house—a two-story log dwelling, and reportedly the first building constructed in Circleville. It survived until 1904—long enough to be photographed.
- In the 1840s, when the process of replatting necessitated razing the first courthouse, the county government convened in Circleville's Lutheran and United Brethren churches.
Typology: Grid
Circleville's original plat was, in fact, circular. The city's founders chose to build their community atop (and within) a ring-shaped earthwork of considerable size. The resulting layout, while unique, irritated a great many residents, and the namesake circle was "squared," in stages, between 1838 and 1856.
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| Map by G.F. Wittich, 1836, from Wikimedia Commons. |
Courthouse Prehistory
- Between 1810 and 1814, Pickaway County officials met at Jacob Zeiger's house—a two-story log dwelling, and reportedly the first building constructed in Circleville. It survived until 1904—long enough to be photographed.
- In the 1840s, when the process of replatting necessitated razing the first courthouse, the county government convened in Circleville's Lutheran and United Brethren churches.
First Courthouse
Location: Public circle (Circleville)
Construction: 1814
Years of service: 1814–1840
Typology: Octagonal; brick; two-story
Style: Federal (?)
Builder: Unknown
Cost: Unknown
Status: Razed
Features of note: Central cupola. Perhaps the country's only octagon-shaped courthouse.
Location: 207 South Court Street (Circleville)
Second Courthouse
Location: 207 South Court Street (Circleville)
Construction: 1845–1847 / 1888–1889 / 1937
Years of service: 1847–
Typology: Front-gabled (with wings); stone; two-story
Style: Greek Revival / Romanesque
Architects: N.B. Kelly / Weary and Kramer
Cost: $45,000 ($1,202,842 in 2017 dollars) / $104,420 ($2,891,281 in 2017 dollars)
Status: Extant; functional
Features of note: Massive corner clock tower with finials and trefoil-arched louvers; broken pediment; wide, denticulate entablature; floral tympanum carvings (with tendrils, shells, and ferns); round-arched first-floor windows; corner pilasters; round-arched entry within pedimented surround.
More photos.
Sources: Wikipedia; Courthouse History; United States Census Bureau; History of Pickaway County, Ohio, and Representative Citizens (Biographical Publishing, 1905).
More photos.
Sources: Wikipedia; Courthouse History; United States Census Bureau; History of Pickaway County, Ohio, and Representative Citizens (Biographical Publishing, 1905).
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