Wright County is named for Silas Wright, a Governor of New York, and for Joseph Albert Wright, a Governor of Indiana.
Surrounding County Courthouses:
N – Hancock County
E – Franklin County
S – Hamilton County
W – Webster County and Humboldt County
Created: January 15, 1851
County Seat:
Liberty 1855 – 1866
Clarion 1866 – present
County Courthouse – Clarion
Location: 115 North Main Street / Central Avenue East
Built: 1891 – 1892
Style: Italianate
Architect: W B Parson & Son
Contractor: E D Janes & Company
Description: The building faces west and is a three story red colored brick, stone and concrete structure. The building is located on landscaped grounds in the center of Clarion. On the southwest corner is a large square clock tower rising seven stories with hipped roof. The west entrance is arched and the base of the building is white colored course stone. Round towers are on either side of the entrance. In the interior, the County District Court is located at the northeast corner of the second story. The courtroom is curved on the east side with long windows and was remodeled in 2018. On the north side of the second story is the County Magistrate Court. The building houses the County District Court of the 2B Judicial District and the County Magistrate Court. The architect was W B Parson & Son and the contractor was E D Janes & Company. The building was renovated in 1974. On the north side is the Old Avondale Hotel which served as the second courthouse from 1855 to 1892.
See: The 2B Judicial District includes Boone County, Calhoun County, Greene County, Hamilton County, Hardin County, Humboldt County, Marshall County, Pocahontas County, Story County and Webster County.
History: The county was created in 1851 and Liberty was selected as the county seat in 1855 when the county was organized. The first court met in a log cabin in 1855. The first courthouse was built in Liberty in 1856 and was later torn down in 1913. The county seat was moved to Clarion in 1866 and the second courthouse was a two story structure built in Clarion. The courthouse was later turned into the Avondale Hotel. The third and present courthouse was constructed in 1891 to 1892 at a cost of $50,000.
County Courthouse – Clarion
County District Court courtroom
Courtroom before remodel in 2008
County Magistrate Court courtroom
Photos taken 2008 and 2024
Images 16*