Union County, Ohio

Founding: April 1, 1820
Parent counties: Delaware, Franklin, Logan, and Madison

Named for: The county's method of formation
Seats: Milford Center (1820–1822); Marysville (1822–)

Land area: 432 square miles

Population (2010): 52,300

Population (historic): 1,996 (1820); 16,507 (1860); 22,342 (1900); 19,192 (1930)

Periods of population growth: 1830–1880; 1970s; 1990–2010

Subdivisions: Two cities; five villages; two CDPs; 14 townships

National Register listings: Seven

Income (per capita): $27,389

Income (median household): $68,452
Business establishments: 1,004 (52 people per business)
Pre-1939 residences (estimated): 3,257 (16.6%)
Vacant houses: 1,359 (6.9%)
Sources of settlement: Virginia, Pennsylvania, Germany, and Vermont

Marysville

Namesake: Mary Cuthbertson, daughter of Samuel Cuthbertson, who platted the city

Founding: 1819 (platting); 1824 (post office); 1840 (incorporation)

Population (2010): 22,094

Population (historic): 360 (1840); 2,061 (1880); 3,048 (1900); 3,639 (1930)

Periods of population growth: 1840–1890; 1900s; 1920–1940; 1950–2010
Typology: Grid

First Courthouse

Location: Milford Center

Construction: 1820

Years of service: 1820–1822

Typology: Single-pen; braced-frame; one-story

Style: None

Builder: Unknown

Cost: Unknown

Status: Razed (relocated to Marysville in 1907)

Features of note: Three-bay facade; clapboard siding; box cornice; rake boards; gable-end chimney; integral rear porch; attached jail.

For a photo, see this page.

Second Courthouse

Location: East Center Street (Marysville)

Construction: 1822

Years of service: 1822–1838

Typology: Side-gabled; braced-frame; two-story

Style: None

Builder: Unknown

Cost: Unknown

Status: Razed

Features of note: Four-by-two bay arrangement; central chimney; clapboard siding.

For a photo, see this page.

Third Courthouse

Location: South Court Street (Marysville)

Construction: 1835–1838

Years of service: 1838–1883

Typology: Front-gabled; brick; two-story

Style: Federal

Builders: Harvey Ward et al.

Cost: Unknown

Status: Razed

Features of note: Louvered clock tower; round-arched recesses and attic window; cornice returns; six-over-six windows; second-floor doorway; peripheral chimneys.

For a photo, see this page.

Fourth Courthouse

Location: 215 West 5th Street (Marysville)

Construction: 1880–1883

Years of service: 1883–

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

Style: Classical Revival

Architect: David W. Gibbs

Cost: $66,275 ($1,708,876 in 2017 dollars)

Status: Extant; functional

Features of note: Multi-tiered central clock tower with balustrades and pediments, topped by a statue of Lady Justice; corner pavilions; mansard roof; pedimented dormers; denticulate, swag-adorned entablature; stone and brick pilasters; windows interrupted by string course; neoclassical porches at entrances. Almost identical to the Henry County Courthouse.

More photos.



Sources: Wikipedia; Courthouse History; United States Census Bureau; The History of Union County, Ohio (Beers, 1883).