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Rural Court Houses

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Rural Court Houses

Beautiful Rural Court Houses

Pike County Court House, Pittsfield, Illinois. April 2022. Photo copyright of Vincent D. Johnson.

The upside of slow growth is many grand old courthouses survived in rural towns

If there is an upside to population decline it might be that grand old buildings like many of the courthouses built in the late 1800s & early 1900s have survived with little to no alterations. 

The city I grew up in had a grand old victorian courthouse until the 1960s, when the county’s growing population made the old dame functional obsolete to some. It was replaced by a Brutalist rectangle of a building before I was even born, but even today the old courthouse is lamented by long-time residents.

Rural counties facing population stagnation or decline are often forced to make due with what they have and keep these old building functional and in shape. While I’m sure the I.T. department is less than thrilled about finding new ways to run ethernet cable through plaster ceilings and limestone walls, those of us who come from more urban areas that have had their historic buildings razed can’t help but gawk at.

Below is small collection of some of the courthouses I've photographed over the years.

Old Logan County Courthouse, Illinois

Mt. Pulaski, Logan County, Illinois, on Nov. 19, 2021. 

 Photo copyright of Vincent David Johnson.

In some rare cases old courthouses were saved long before preservationism was a big thing. Illinois’ Logan County courthouse, as many residents may know, is in the town Lincoln. However the former county courthouse built in 1848 still stands in Mt. Pulaski, despite the county seat being moved from there to Lincoln in 1855. Abraham Lincoln actually argued many cases here in the second-floor courtroom. 

After the move the community made the building their town hall, a school, and a post office at times before the state purchased it in 1935 and began restoration. Today the building is open for tours and is on the National Register of Historic Places. You can find more about it here.  

Thomas County Courthouse, Kansas

Thomas County Courthouse, in Colby, Kansas, Jan. 2008.

 Photo copyright of Vincent David Johnson.

Gibson County Courthouse, Indiana

Main Street and courthouse in Princeton, Gibson County, Indiana, August 17th, 2019.

 Photo copyright of Vincent David Johnson.

Lampasas County Courthouse, Texas

The Lampasas County courthouse in Lampasas, Lampasas County, Texas, June 24, 2016.

Photo copyright of Vincent David Johnson.

Todd County Courthouse, Kentucky

Courthouse Main Street, Elkton, Todd County, Kentucky, Aug. 21st, 2017. Photo copyright of Vincent David Johnson.

Hampshire County Courthouse, West Virginia

Main Street Hampshire County courthouse in Romney, Hampshire County, West Virginia, Aug. 18th, 2017. 

Photo copyright of Vincent David Johnson.

Wheeler County Courthouse, Texas

Wheeler County Courthouse, Wheeler, Texas.
, Jan. 2008.
 Photo copyright of Vincent David Johnson.

Old Warren County Courthouse, Mississippi

Warren County Courthhouse, Vicksburg, Warren County, Mississippi, August 22nd, 2019. Photo copyright of Vincent David Johnson.

Another old courthouse that was saved after a new building was constructed in 1939. This courthouse from 1858, not only managed to dodge the wrecking ball of modernization, but survived the Civil War.  It too is now a museum and more info can be found about Vicksburg’s old courthouse here.

Grayson County Courthouse, Kentucky

County courthouse Leitchfield, Grayson County, Kentucky, Aug. 20th, 2017.

 Photo copyright of Vincent David Johnson.

Carroll County Courthouse, Illinois

Carroll County counrthouse holding pen/jail, Market Street business district of Mt. Carroll, Carroll County, Illinois, October 21st, 2018.

 Photo copyright of Vincent David Johnson.

Carroll County Courthouse in Mt. Carroll, Illinois has a feature that almost instantly teleports you back in time. Yes, the building itself is old and that helps, but look on the north side of the courthouse and you will see a wrought-iron cage that is used to house inmates in between trials when the courthouse has limited capacity inside. 

Sure it looks antiquated and you’ll assume hasn’t been used for some time. At least until you read the warning notice dated 1999.

Todd County Courthouse, Kentucky

Courthouse Main Street, Elkton, Todd County, Kentucky, Aug. 21st, 2017. Photo copyright of Vincent David Johnson.

Jones County Courthouse, Texas

Jones County courthouse with Christmas lights, Anson, Jones County, Texas, December 29th, 2018.

 Photo copyright of Vincent David Johnson.

Clinton County Courthouse, Iowa

Clinton County courthouse in Clinton, Iowa, July 29th, 2019. Built in 1897 it was built in the Richardsonian Romanesque style for a cost of $168,000.

 Photo copyright of Vincent David Johnson.

Gibson County Courthouse, Indiana

Main Street and courthouse in Princeton, Gibson County, Indiana, August 17th, 2019.

 Photo copyright of Vincent David Johnson.

Columbiana County Courthouse, Ohio

Vcant storefronts by ehe Columbiana County courthouse along the Lincoln Highway, Lisbon, Columbiana County, Ohio, June 13th, 2020.

 Photo copyright of Vincent David Johnson.

Even in some of the most remote rural towns, being the county seat has afforded a lifeline to the businesses around the courthouse and town square. Yet, in towns like Lisbon, Ohio storefronts in prime real estate locations sit empty with “for sale” or “for rent” signs that have become weather faded.

Huntington County Courthouse, Indiana

The Huntington County Courthouse, Huntington, Huntington County, Indiana, July 13th, 2020.

 Photo copyright of Vincent David Johnson.

Wyandot County Courthouse, Ohio

Along the Lincoln Highway, the county courthouse in Upper Sandusky, Wyandot County, Ohio, June 13th, 2020.

 Photo copyright of Vincent David Johnson.

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