Shelby County, Ohio

Founding: April 1, 1819
Parent county: Miami

Namesake: Isaac Shelby (1750–1826), first Kentucky governor
Seats: Hardin (1819–1820); Sidney (1820–)

Land area: 408 square miles

Population (2010): 49,423

Population (historic): 2,106 (1820); 13,958 (1850); 24,137 (1880); 24,924 (1930)

Periods of population growth: 1820–1880; 1940–1980

Subdivisions: One city; eight villages; one CDP; 14 townships

National Register listings: 19

Income (per capita): $21,948

Income (median household): $48,475
Business establishments: 982 (50.3 people per business)
Pre-1939 residences (estimated): 4,024 (19.9%)
Vacant houses: 1,594 (7.9%)
Sources of settlement: Pennsylvania, Germany, Virginia, France, and New Jersey

Sidney

Namesake: Philip Sidney (1554–1586), English poet

Founding: 1820 (platting); 1821 (post office)

Population (2010): 21,229

Population (historic): 240 (1830); 2,055 (1860); 5,688 (1900); 9,301 (1930)

Periods of population growth: 1830–1920; 1940–1970
Typology: Grid (with central courthouse square)

Courthouse Prehistory

- In 1819, Shelby County officials convened at a log house in Hardin.

First Courthouse

Location: Sidney

Construction: 1821–1822

Years of service: 1822–1831

Typology: Center-hall; braced-frame; two-story

Style: Unknown

Builder: Unknown

Cost: Unknown

Status: Razed

Features of note: Appearance unknown. The building measured 30' by 24'.

Second Courthouse

Location: Courthouse Square (Sidney)

Construction: 1831–1833

Years of service: 1833–1881

Typology: Cubic; brick; two-story

Style: Federal

Builders: Charles Bush, William Dock, and George Leckey

Cost: Unknown

Status: Razed

Features of note: Octagonal central cupola; denticulate cornice; five-bay facade; doorway with fanlight.

For a photo, see this page.

Third Courthouse

Photo by Derek Jensen.

Location: 100 East Court Street (Sidney)

Construction: 1881–1883

Years of service: 1883–

Typology: Axial; stone; two-and-a-half-story (with elevated basement)

Style: Second Empire

Architect: George H. Maetzel

Cost: $200,000 ($5,338,431 in 2017 dollars)

Status: Extant; functional

Features of note: Mansard-roofed central clock tower; corner pavilions; mansard roof; ornate dormers; denticulate entablature; modillions; pediment; Corinthian pilasters; quoins; rusticated stonework; round-arched windows with hoodmolds and keystones; circular windows; cornice separating first and second floors; Classical Revival porch.


Sources: Wikipedia; Courthouse History; United States Census Bureau; History of Shelby County, Ohio (Sutton, 1883).