Lyon County - American Courthouses

Lyon County is named for Nathaniel Lyon, who was a general during the American Civil War and who was killed at the Battle of Wilson’s Creek.

Surrounding County Courthouses:

N – Wabaunsee County

E – Osage County and Coffey County

S – Greenwood County

W – Chase County and Morris County

Created: February 3, 1862

County Seat:

Columbia 1855 – 1857 (Madison County)

Waterloo 1857 – 1858

Americus 1858 – 1860

Emporia 1860 – 1862 (Breckenridge County)

Emporia 1862 – present

County Courthouse – Emporia

Location: 430 Commercial Street / East 5th Avenue

Built: 2000 – 2001

Style: Modern

Architect: Treanor Architects

Contractor: J E Dunn Construction of Kansas City, Missouri

Description: The building faces north and is a three story red colored brick, glass and concrete structure. The building is located in the center of Emporia. The north side has a large arched glass section. The northeast and northwest corners have a rounded glass section with an entrance on the first story. Along the west side are five high arch glass sections with a recessed walkway on the first story. The roof line is flat. The County District Court courtrooms are located on the third story. The building houses the County District Court of the 5th Judicial District.

Old County Courthouse – Emporia

Location: 430 Commercial Street / East 4th Avenue

Built: 1952 – 1953

Style: Modern

Architect: Brinkman & Hagan

Contractor: Frank Blazer Building Company

Description: The building faces west and is a three story buff colored brick, glass and concrete structure. The building is located in the center of Emporia on the south side of the courthouse. The west front has vertical concrete dividers with recessed vertical windows. The front is faced with stone and the entrance on the south side of the front has a concrete canopy. . Along the south side there are horizontal windows with buff colored brick between. The third story extends only part way. The roof line is flat. The building is not connected to the new courthouse along the north side and now houses county offices.

See: The 5th Judicial District includes Chase County.

History: The county was originally known as Breckenridge County and was attached to Madison County with Columbia as the county seat. The county seat was changed in Waterloo in 1857, to Americus in 1858 and to Emporia in 1860. Name changed to Lyon County and the county was created in 1862 with Emporia as the county seat. The first courthouse was a stone structure designed by John Hammond and built by Dr. Thomas Armor and Perry B Mazson in 1866 at a cost of $19,795. Peter B Hughes and Richard Howl did the stonework. George Plumb burned the lime that was used for the mortar in the construction of the building at northwest corner Third Avenue and Commercial Street. The second courthouse was designed by Frederick C Gunn and constructed by D L Thomas in 1901 at northeast corner Fourth Avenue and Commercial Street. The third courthouse was constructed in 1952 to 1953 and is still standing. The fourth and present courthouse was constructed in 2000 to 2001.