Van Wert County, Ohio
Founding: April 24, 1835 (declared in 1820)
Parent county: Unorganized territory
Parent county: Unorganized territory
Namesake: Isaac Van Wart (1762–1828), New York militiaman
Seats: Willshire (1835–1839); Van Wert (1839–)
Seats: Willshire (1835–1839); Van Wert (1839–)
Land area: 409 square miles
Population (2010): 28,744
Population (historic): 1,577 (1840); 10,238 (1860); 29,671 (1890); 26,273 (1930)
Periods of population growth: 1830–1890; 1950s
Subdivisions: Two cities; eight villages; 12 townships
National Register listings: Six
Income (per capita): $20,772
Income (median household): $44,415
Business establishments: 545 (52.7 people per business)
Pre-1939 residences (estimated): 4,154 (32.8%)
Vacant houses: 1,274 (10.1%)
Sources of settlement: Pennsylvania, Germany, and Wales
Business establishments: 545 (52.7 people per business)
Pre-1939 residences (estimated): 4,154 (32.8%)
Vacant houses: 1,274 (10.1%)
Sources of settlement: Pennsylvania, Germany, and Wales
Van Wert
Founding: 1824 (platting); 1835 (post office)
Population (2010): 10,846
Population (historic): 268 (1850); 4,079 (1880); 6,422 (1900); 8,473 (1930)
Periods of population growth: 1850–1920; 1940s
Typology: Grid
- Until 1839, when Van Wert became the county seat, Van Wert County officials met at a residence in Willshire.
Typology: Grid
Courthouse Prehistory
- Until 1839, when Van Wert became the county seat, Van Wert County officials met at a residence in Willshire.
First Courthouse
Location: Van Wert
Construction: Unknown
Years of service: 1839–1840
Typology: Double-pen ("dogtrot"); log; one-story
Style: None
Builder: Unknown
Builder: Unknown
Cost: Unknown
Status: Razed
Features of note: Appearance unknown.
Second Courthouse
Location: Van Wert
Construction: 1840
Years of service: 1840–?
Typology: Frame
Style: None
Builder: Unknown
Builder: Unknown
Cost: Unknown
Status: Razed
Features of note: Appearance unknown.
Third Courthouse
Location: Van Wert
Construction: Unknown
Years of service: ?–1876
Typology: Front-gabled; brick; two-story
Style: None
Builder: Unknown
Builder: Unknown
Cost: Unknown
Status: Razed (after functioning as a store)
Features of note: None. A seemingly nondescript structure.
Fourth Courthouse
Location: 121 East Main Street (Van Wert)
Construction: 1874–1876
Years of service: 1876–
Typology: Center-hall (rectangular); brick; two-and-a-half-story (with elevated basement)
Style: Second Empire
Architect: Thomas J. Tolan
Cost: Unknown
Status: Extant; functional
Features of note: Massive central tower; corner pavilions; round-arched hoodmolds sheltering clocks; bracketed, paneled cornices; paired one-over-one windows with broken pediments; paneled string course; intricate sheet-metal ornamentation; circular window above entry; statue of Lady Justice.
More photos.
Sources: Wikipedia; Courthouse History; United States Census Bureau; History of Van Wert County, Ohio, and Representative Citizens (Richmond and Arnold, 1906).
More photos.
Sources: Wikipedia; Courthouse History; United States Census Bureau; History of Van Wert County, Ohio, and Representative Citizens (Richmond and Arnold, 1906).
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