Franklin County is named for Benjamin Franklin, who was a signer of the Declaration of Independence and who lived from 1706 to 1790.
Surrounding County Courthouses:
N – Warren County and St, Charles County
E – St. Louis County and Jefferson County
S – Washington County and Crawford County
W – Gasconade County
Created: December 11, 1818
County Seat:
Dundee 1818 – 1826
Newport 1826 – 1827
Union 1827 – present
County Courthouse – Union
Location: 300 East Main Street / East Locust Street
Built: 1922 – 1923
Style: Classical Revival
Architect: Bonsack and Pearce of St. Louis
Contractor: George H Gassman Construction Company
Description: The building faces south and is a three story Carthage and Bedford gray colored stone structure. The building is 90 square feet. The south front has a portico with three arches on the first story and four columns rising from the second story to the top of the third story and with a large header above at the roof line. A similar portico is on the north side. In the interior is a cross hall floor plan Marble stairs ascend to the third story. The large Stienberger Memorial courtroom is located on the third story and houses the County Municipal Court.In 1975 a second courtroom was created. In 2009 the building was restored. The architect was Treanor Architects and the contractors were Cochran Engineering and PARIC Corporation of St Louis.
See: The three architects at Bonsack and Pearce were Norman B. Howard, Frederick C. Bonsack, and Harvey J. Pearce. The architects, Fred C Bonsack and Harvey J Pearce of St. Louis also designed the courthouse in Audrain County, Dade County, Franklin County and St. Francois County.
County Judicial Center – Union
Location: 401 East Main Street / Church Street
Built: 2007 – 2008
Style: Modern
Architect: Treanor Architects of Kansas City
Contractor: PARIC Corporation, LLC of St Louis
Description: The building faces southwest and is a three story red colored brick, stone, concrete and glass structure. The southwest corner has a circular three story concrete tower with glass panel entrance. The rest of the building is faced with red colored brick. The roof line is flat. In the interior are five County Circuit Court courtrooms. The building houses the County Circuit Court of the 20th Judicial Circuit.
See: The 20th Judicial District covers Gasconade County and Osage County.
History: The county was created in 1818 and Dundee was selected as the county seat. The first courthouse a two story brick structure was built James by McDonald in Newport in 1819 at a cost of $3,700. The county seat was moved to Newport in 1826 and then to Union in 1827. A temporary log courthouse was built by Ambrose Ranson in Union in 1827. The second courthouse was a one story brick structure also built in 1827 at a cost of $844.79. The third courthouse was built by Henry H Wright in 1847 to 1849 at a cost of $7,720. A west wing and vaults were begun in 1891 and completed in February 1892 at a cost of $6,604.75. The present and fourth courthouse was constructed at a cost of $200,000. In 2007 to 2008 the County Judicial Center was constructed at a cost of $7,500,000.
County Government Center – Union
Location: 401 East Main Street / Church Street
Built: 2005 – 2006
Style: Modern
Architect: Treanor Architects of Kansas City
Contractor: Unknown
Description: The building faces northwest and is a two story red colored brick, stone, concrete and glass structure. The northwest corner has a circular two story concrete tower with glass panel entrance. The rest of the building is faced with red colored brick. The roof line is flat.
County Courthouse – Union
Municipal Court courtroom entrance
Photos taken 2009 and 2026
Images 12