The Washington County Courthouse is a government building in central Nashville, the county seat of Washington County, Illinois, United States. It is the fourth building to serve as the courthouse for Washington County, having been built in 1884 after the previous courthouse was destroyed by fire.
Two men, John Lively and David Huggins, and their families were the first settlers in the parts of Randolph County just northeast of that county's current boundaries. They moved to this location circa 1811, but the depredations of the Indians in 1813 forced one family to leave, [1] : 16 the other family was murdered, and the next permanent settlers did not arrive until 1815. The population increased rapidly beginning in 1817, prompting the territorial legislature to form Washington County in 1818. [1] : 17 Its first county seat was Covington, in the center of the county, but the creation of Clinton County in 1824 left Covington on the county's northern fringe. [2] As a result, a new town, Georgetown, was formed in 1827 to replace it, but no public buildings were built here, and a newly arrived judge found only deserted fields at the site in 1829. [1] : 24 Farther south, two men began planning the town of Nashville in 1830, near the center of the county's new boundaries; [1] : 43 it was formally platted in 1831, [1] : 24 and the title of county seat moved from Covington in the same year. [2]
Covington's courthouse was a primitive building of which no details have survived, and no courthouse was ever built at Georgetown. Therefore, when Nashville became the county seat, the county commissioners immediately contracted for the building of a courthouse on the public square, a frame building that was used until 1840. Its replacement, [1] : 24 a square two-story structure with adjacent jail, [1] : plate facing 24 allocated the first floor to the courts and the second to county offices, although this arrangement was reversed in 1855. [1] : 24 However, fire destroyed this building in 1883; county officials immediately began laying plans for its replacement, and the fourth and current courthouse was erected in the following year, costing $24,000. It is an Italianate building, two stories tall, with an oculus and broken pediment above the arched main entrance, while stone quoins are set in the corners of the brick walls. Space concerns prompted the addition of one-story sections to each side of the facade in 1965; the county was careful to maintain the style of the original building. [2]
Washington County is a county located in the U.S. state of Illinois. As of the 2020 census, it had a population of 13,761. Its county seat is Nashville. It is located in the southern portion of Illinois known locally as "Little Egypt".
Farwell is a city in and the county seat of Parmer County, Texas, United States. Its population was 1,363 at the 2010 census. The city is located on the Texas-New Mexico border with the city of Texico, New Mexico across the border.
The Wabash County Courthouse is a historic governmental building in downtown Mount Carmel, Illinois, United States. Built in the late nineteenth century as the fifth courthouse in Wabash County, it has experienced a series of extensive remodelling projects that have left it with virtually nothing of the original building.
The Wayne County Courthouse is a historic government building in Fairfield, Illinois, United States. Built to serve Wayne County in the 1890s, it replaced an older building whose capabilities were seen as inadequate.
The Randolph County Courthouse is a government building in central Chester, the county seat of Randolph County, Illinois, United States. Built in 1972, it is the latest of several buildings to serve as the seat of government in Illinois' oldest county, and the second erected in Chester after the relocation of county government from Kaskaskia in 1847 after a devastating flood.
The Hardin County Courthouse is a government building in Elizabethtown, the county seat of Hardin County, Illinois, United States. Built in 1927, it is the fourth building to serve this purpose in Hardin County, following three that were replaced due to fires or fire-related concerns.
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The Gallatin County Courthouse is a government building in Shawneetown, the county seat of Gallatin County, Illinois, United States. Built in 1939, it is at least the third Shawneetown building to serve as the county courthouse, but the only one following Shawneetown's complete relocation to avoid flooding on the Ohio River.
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The Jefferson County Courthouse is a government building in Mount Vernon, the county seat of Jefferson County, Illinois, United States. Built in 1939 by the federal Works Progress Administration, it is the fifth courthouse to serve Jefferson County.
The Perry County Courthouse is a government building in central Pinckneyville, the county seat of Perry County, Illinois, United States. Built in 1850, it is the third courthouse in the county's history, and it has been twice expanded to serve the county's growing needs.
The Fayette County Courthouse is a government building in Vandalia, the county seat of Fayette County, Illinois, United States. Converted from a residence in the 1930s, it succeeded a former state capitol as the courthouse for Fayette County.
The DeWitt County Courthouse is a government building in Clinton, the county seat of DeWitt County, Illinois, United States. Completed in 1986, it is the fourth courthouse in the history of DeWitt County.
The Alexander County Courthouse is a government building in central Cairo, the county seat of Alexander County, Illinois, United States. Built in the 1960s, it is the latest in a series of courthouses erected in four towns across Alexander County.
The Calhoun County Courthouse is a government building in Hardin, the county seat of Calhoun County, Illinois, United States. Built in 1848 and expanded in the 20th century, it remains in use as the county's courthouse.
The Pike County Courthouse is a government building in Pittsfield, the county seat of Pike County, Illinois, United States. Completed in 1895, it is the fifth courthouse in the county's history.
The St. Clair County Courthouse is a government building in Belleville, the county seat of St. Clair County, Illinois, United States. Built in 1976, it is the fifth courthouse in the history of the county, and one of two that still stands.
The Jasper County Courthouse is a government building in Newton, the county seat of Jasper County, Illinois, United States. Built in 1876, it is the third courthouse in the county's history.