Hendricks County - American Courthouses

Hendricks County is named for William Hendricks, who was the Governor of Indiana when the county was formed.

Surrounding County Courthouses:

N – Boone County

E – Marion County

S – Morgan County

W – Putnam County and Montgomery County

Created: December 20, 1823

County Seat:

Danville 1824 – present

County Courthouse – Danville

Location: 1 Courthouse Square / West Main Street

Built: 1912 – 1914

Style: Classical Renaissance

Architect: Clarence Martindale of Indianapolis

Contractor: P H McCormack of Columbus

Description: The building faces north and is a three story stone and concrete structure. The building is located on landscaped grounds in the center of Danville. The building is constructed with Indiana limestone (Bedford Oolitic). The four facades are symmetrical in their design and identical appearance. The center section on each side has a portico with arched entrance and two arched windows on the first story and two large columns rising from a balcony on the second story, to the top of the third story with pediment on top with a clock. The roof line is flat. In the interior there is a cross floor plan with a large rotunda at the center with stained glass skylight above the third story. Other elements include woodwork, wall stencils, brass accents and faux finishes. The building has six courtrooms. The ornate Circuit Court courtroom is located on the east side of the third story. The courtroom has a gold color and has a large mural commemorating George Rogers Clark’s 1779 Liberation of Vincennes, painted by Edgar Alvin Payne. On the west side of the third story is the County Superior Court courtroom and on the southeast side is the small County Magistrate Court courtroom. The building houses the County Circuit Court, County Superior Court and County Magistrate Court of the 16th Judicial District. The building was restored in 2004. On the west side is the County Courthouse Annex and to the south is the old County Jail built in 1866 to 1867.

See: National Register of Historic Places – Danville Courthouse Square Historic District

See: The 16th Judicial District includes Morgan County.

History: The county was created in 1823 and Danville was selected as the county seat in 1824. The first courthouse was a log structure built in 1826 at a cost of $147. The second courthouse was a brick structure built in 1830. The third courthouse was a brick and limestone structure designed by Isaac Hodgson and constructed in 1862 at a cost of $60,000. The fourth and present courthouse was constructed in 1912 to 1914 at a cost of $186,400.