Ohio County is named for the Ohio River which used to form the northern boundary of the county until the creation of Daviess County and Hancock County.
Surrounding County Courthouses:
N – Davies County and Hancock County
E – Breckinridge County and Grayson County
S – Butler County and Muhlenberg County
W – McLean County and Daviess County
Created: December 17, 1798
County Seat:
Hartford 1798 – present
County Courthouse – Hartford
Location: 301 South Main Street / East Washington Street
Built: 1941 – 1943
Style: Art Deco / Moderne
Architect: Walter Scott Roberts of Owensboro
Contractor: Wescott & Thornton
Description: The building faces southwest and is a two story gray colored stone and poured concrete structure. The building is located on landscaped grounds of Courthouse Square in the center of Hartford and sits on a slight rise. The southwest front has a large rectangular stone arch with the entrance recessed and a large window above the entrance doors. On large window on either side, flank the central arch and three small vertical windows, flank the central arch on the second story. The building houses the County District Court of the 38th Judicial Circuit. The building was constructed as a Works Project Administration project.
County Community Center – Hartford
Location: 130 East Washington Street / Liberty Street
Built: 1979 -1980
Style: Modern
Architect: Max W Bisson and Associates
Contractor: Keach Construction Company
Description: The building faces northwest and is a three story glass and concrete structure. The building is located on landscaped grounds in the center of Hartford and is named as the Ohio County Community Center. The roof line is flat. The building houses the County Circuit Court of the 38th Judicial Circuit. The consulting engineer was Waldron, Batey and Wade Inc.
See: The 38th Judicial Circuit includes Butler County, Edmonson County and Hancock County.
History: The county was created in 1798 and Hartford was selected as the county seat. The first courthouse was a log cabin built in 1799 to 1800. The courthouse collapsed in 1813. The second courthouse was constructed by William H Miller in 1865. The third courthouse was burned during the Civil War. The fourth and present courthouse was constructed in 1941 to 1943 at a cost of $125,000. The County Community Building was constructed in 1979 to 1980.
County Courthouse – Hartford
County Community Center – Hartford
Photos taken 2007, 2018 and 2026
Images 12