Livingston County - American Courthouses

Livingston County is named for Robert Livingston, who was one of the Committee of Five that drafted the Declaration of Independence, and who lived from 1746 to 1813.

Surrounding County Courthouses:

N – Pope County, Illinois and Hardin County, Illinois

E – Crittenden County and Lyon County

S – Marshall County

W – McCracken County, Massac County, Illinois and Pope County, Illinois

Created: December 13, 1798

County Seat:

Eddyville 1800 – 1804

Centerville 1804 – 1809

Salem 1809 – 1842

Smithland 1842 – present

County Courthouse – Smithland

Location: 335 Court Street / Wilson Street

Built: 1842 – 1845

Style: Colonial

Architect: Preston Grace of Princeton

Contractor: Preston Grace of Princeton

Description: The building faces north and is a two story red colored brick and wood structure. The building is located on landscaped grounds in the center of Smithland. The north front has a white colored stone arch at the doorway with black colored iron balcony above. The windows are arched. At the top of the building is a cross of white colored stone. On the center of the roof is a square white wood cupola. In the interior, a hallway runs north-south and wood stairs ascend to the second story. The large former courtroom is located along the south side. Additions have been added in 1870’s. The architect was J F Frick. Further addition were constructed in 1960’s. The building now houses a museum and the one story building on the east side has been demolished.

County Justice Center – Smithland

Location: 122 West Adair Street / Court Street

Built: 2007 – 2009

Style: Modern

Architect: JRA Architects of Louisville

Contractor: B H Green & Son of Paducah

Description: The building faces northwest and is a two story red colored brick and concrete structure. The building is located on spacious landscaped grounds with the old courthouse and County Public Offices on the north side in the center of Smithland. The front has a projecting center section with two entrances on the first story, iron balcony on the second story and glass panels rising to the roof line. At the top is an octagonal cupola with dome. The building is tired with the main section forming north and south two story wings. The roof is hipped. In the interior is an entrance lobby with high ceiling, mural and large window. On the first story are the County District Court courtroom at the center and the County Family Court courtroom on the south side. The County Circuit Court courtroom is located at the center of the second story. The building houses the County Circuit Court, County District Court and County Family Court of the 56th Judicial Circuit.

See: The 56th Judicial Circuit includes Caldwell County, Lyon County and Trigg County.

History: The county was created in 1798 and Eddyville (now in Lyon County) was selected as the county seat in 1800. The first courthouse was built by David Walker in 1801 and the courthouse was later used when Caldwell County was created in 1809 until 1817 when that county seat was moved to Princeton. In 1804, the county seat moved to Centerville and then to Salem in 1809. The second courthouse was a log cabin built by William Rodgers in 1810. The building was torn down during the Civil War. The county seat was moved to Smithland in 1842. The third and present courthouse was built in 1842 to 1845. The County Justice Center was constructed in 2007 to 2009.

County Public Offices – Smithland

Location: 375 Court Street / Wilson Street

Built: 2000 – 2001

Style: Modern

Architect: Castleberry McGregor Swenford Architects

Contractor: B H Green & Son of Paducah

Description: The building faces north and is a three story red colored brick and concrete structure. The north front has a projecting center section with two entrances on the first story, iron balcony on the second story and arched windows on the third story. At the top is a small pediment. The roof is hipped. The building is named as the Livingston County Public Office and Library.