Kenosha County - American Courthouses

Kenosha County is named for the Ojibwe word “ginoozhe” meaning “a pike ( fish )”.

Surrounding County Courthouses:

N – Racine County

E – Lake Michigan

S – Lake County, Illinois and McHenry County, Illinois

W – Walworth County

Created: January 30, 1850

County Seat:

Kenosha 1850 – present

County Courthouse – Kenosha

Location: 1010 56th Street / Sheridan Road

Built: 1923 – 1925

Style: Neo-Classical

Architect: Joseph Lindl, Charles Lesser & Albert J Schutte

Contractor: Hutter Construction Company of Fond du Lac

Description: The building faces south and is a three story limestone, stone and concrete structure. The building is located on landscaped grounds in the center of Kenosha. The building is constructed of gray colored Indiana limestone with the east and west wings projecting from the building. The long center section has stone columns rising from the second to third story. The first story entrance has three doorways framed with stone. The interior there is a central light court, illuminated by a colored leaded glass skylight and by round arched windows. The light curt rises three stories at the main entrance hall and is surrounded by balconies. The hallways run east-west. Distinguished by a Botticino marble staircase and marble columns and pilasters, the interior light court and adjacent hallways are lavishly ornamented with molded ceiling details, hand-wrought iron balusters and grills, and “classical” mural art. The murals in the central hall were designed by A E Foringer and executed in muted tones of blue, gold, and white. Symbolizing Civil Law, with winged figures bearing inscribed tablets, they surmount the entries to the second story County Circuit Court courtrooms which are located on the east and west sides of the light court. The large mural on the third floor landing, entitled “In Memoriam,” was designed by noted New York artist William De Leftwich-Dodge, and the courtroom murals were designed by Charles Holloway. The building has eleven County Circuit Court courtrooms located on the first and second stories. The County Circuit Court ceremonial courtroom is located on the second story on the west side of the light court. The building houses the County Circuit Court of the 2nd Judicial Circuit.

See: The 2nd Judicial District includes Racine County and Walworth County.

History: The county was created in 1850 and Kenosha was designated as the county seat. The first courthouse was a red colored brick structure built in 1850 at a cost of $10,500. The courthouse was razes in 1885 when the second courthouse, a two story red brick structure was designed by Burnham & Root and built in 1885 at a cost of $31,000. The third and present courthouse was constructed in 1923 to 1925 at a cost of $500,000.