Kankakee County is named for the Potawatomi Indian tribe who lived in the area called the Kankakee River called the “Theatki” which evolved into “Kankakee”.
Surrounding County Courthouses:
N – Will County
E – Lake County, Indiana and Newton County, Indiana
S – Iroquois County and Ford County
W – Livingston County and Grundy County
Created: February 11, 1853
County Seat:
Kankakee 1853 – present
County Courthouse – Kankakee
Location: 450 East Court Street / South Indiana Avenue
Built: 1909 – 1912
Style: Beaux Arts
Architect: Zachary Taylor Davis of Chicago
Contractor: W F Stillwell of Lafayette, Indiana
Description: The building faces north and is a three story buff colored Bedford limestone, granite and concrete structure. The building is located on spacious landscaped grounds in the center of Kankakee. The north front has a large portico with three arches on the first story entrance. Above are two large columns rising to the top of the third story with recessed windows and a pediment at the roof level. Around the roof is a stone balustrade. In the center of the building is a large square stone dome with clock and green dome. The interior has Italian marble and stained glass windows. There is high central rotunda with hand painted murals on all four sides of the dome depicting prosperity, history, discovery and progress. There is one large leaded light fixture that hangs over the staircase landing going up to the third story. The large County Circuit Court courtroom is located on the third story. There are eight courtrooms in the building. The building houses the County Circuit Court of the 21st Judicial Circuit. The supervising engineer was Robert T Malcomb and the superintendent was Arthur Soupart. The building was renovated in 1980. The architect was Turner-Witt.
See: National Register of Historic Places – Kankakee County Courthouse
See: The 21st Judicial District includes Iroquois County.
History: The county was created in 1853 and Kankakee was selected as the county seat. The first courthouse was a three story brick and limestone structure built in 1853. The courthouse burned in October 1872. The second courthouse was constructed in 1872 to 1873 and was a replica of the first courthouse. The courthouse was remodeled in 1892. The third and present courthouse was constructed in 1909 to 1912 at a cost of $187,000.
County Courthouse – Kankakee
Photos taken 2006, 2010 and 2025
Images 8