Tuscarawas County, Ohio

Founding: March 15, 1808
Parent county: Muskingum

Namesake: The Tuscarawas River
Seat: New Philadelphia (1808–)

Land area: 568 square miles

Population (2010): 92,582

Population (historic): 3,045 (1810); 31,761 (1850); 40,198 (1880); 68,193 (1930)

Periods of population growth: 1810–1850; 1870–1900; 1910s; 1950s; 1970s; 1990s

Subdivisions: Three cities; 16 villages; two CDPs; 22 townships

National Register listings: 24

Income (per capita): $20,536

Income (median household): $42,081
Business establishments: 2,143 (43.2 people per business)
Pre-1939 residences (estimated): 11,850 (29.6%)
Vacant houses: 3,696 (9.2%)
Sources of settlement: Pennsylvania; Germany; Switzerland; Virginia; Maryland; Ireland

New Philadelphia

Namesake: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Founding: 1804 (platting); 1810 (post office); 1833 (incorporation)

Population (2010): 17,288

Population (historic): 236 (1820); 1,413 (1850); 3,070 (1880); 12,365 (1930)

Periods of population growth: 1840–1860; 1880–1930; 1950s; 1970s; 1990s
Typology: Grid

First Courthouse

Location: New Philadelphia

Construction: 1808

Years of service: 1808–1818

Typology: Side-gabled (?); log; two-story

Style: None

Builder: Peter Minnich

Cost: $1,500 ($23,323 in 2017 dollars)

Status: Razed

Features of note: Appearance unknown. Reportedly, the structure measured 40' by 30'. The building's first floor housed a jail and sheriff's quarters.

Second Courthouse

Location: New Philadelphia

Construction: 1818

Years of service: 1818–1882

Typology: Cubic; brick; three-story

Style: Federal

Builder: Henry Fox

Cost: $6,297 ($102,299 in 2017 dollars)

Status: Razed

Features of note: Octagonal cupola with lofty steeple; five-bay facade; multiple entries.

For a photo, see this page.

Third Courthouse

Photo by Tim Kiser.

Location: 101 East High Avenue (New Philadelphia)

Construction: 1882–1885 / 1942 / 1990

Years of service: 1885–

Typology: Axial; stone; three-story

Style: Classical Revival

Architect: Thomas Boyd

Cost: $99,860 ($2,765,019 in 2017 dollars)

Status: Extant; functional

Features of note: Domed central clock tower with circular drum; pedimented porticoes; denticulate entablature; Corinthian columns; garlands; segmental-arched windows; cornice separating first and second floors; scored first-floor stonework; arcaded side entry.


Sources: Wikipedia; Courthouse History; United States Census Bureau; The History of Tuscarawas County, Ohio (Warner and Beers, 1884).