Washington County - American Courthouses

Washington County is named for George Washington, who was the first President of the United States from 1789 to 1797.

Surrounding County Courthouses:

N – Nelson County and Anderson County

E – Mercer County and Boyle County

S – Marion County

W – Nelson County

Created: June 22, 1792

County Seat:

Springfield 1792 – present

County Courthouse – Springfield

Location: 111 North Cross Main Street / Main Street

Built: 1814 – 1816

Style: Federal

Architect: Thomas H Letcher

Contractor: Thomas H Letcher

Description: The building faces south and is a two story red colored brick structure. The south front has a one story Doric portico supported by four white colored columns. There is a smaller portico on the west side. On the center of the roof is a square white colored cupola which was added in 1840. The building is on a white colored stone base. In 1918, the portico was added. The architect was Frank Brewer. The two story gray colored stone addition was added in 1938.to 1939 on the north side. The addition houses the county administration.

Note: The building is the oldest courthouse in Kentucky. The cost of construction of the courthouse was $4,195. The commissioners, Robert Crouch, Paul Booker, John Reed, David Rodman, John Calhoun, Arthur Gibbins and Jacob Seay were appointed to contract for a new courthouse and they developed the plans in conjunction with the contractor Thomas H Letcher at a cost of $2,500.

See: National Register of Historic Places – Washington County Courthouse

County Judicial Center – Springfield

Location: 117 North Cross Main Street / Main Street

Built: 2006 – 2008

Style: Modern

Architect: Brandstetter Carroll Inc. of Lexington

Contractor: Cordell Construction Company of Winchester

Description: The building faces north and is a two story red colored brick and concrete structure. The building is located south of the courthouse. On the northwest corner is a large portico with high columns rising to a pediment at the roof line. There is a large statue of Lincoln in front of the building. The second story windows have concrete arches above. A wide concrete band runs below the flat roof line. On the roof is a high white colored cupola with clock. The building houses the County Circuit Court and County District Court of the 11th Judicial Circuit.

See: The architect, Brandstetter Carroll Inc. of Lexington designed courthouses in Garrard County, Graves County and Nicholas County, and the contractor was Codell Construction Company of Winchester which company constructed many courthouse in Kentucky (see Louisville).

See: The 11th Judicial Circuit includes Green County, Marion County and Taylor County..

History: The county was created in 1792 and Springfield was selected as the county seat. The first courts met in private homes. The first courthouse was a log structure built in 1793. The second courthouse was built in 1797 and was destroyed by fire in 1814. The commissioners, Robert Crouch, Paul Booker, John Reed, David Rodman, John Calhoun, Arthur Gibbins and Jacob Seay were appointed to contract for a new courthouse and they developed the plans in conjunction with the contractor Thomas H Letcher at a cost of $2,500. On the north side is a gray colored stone addition constructed in 1938 to 1939. The addition houses the county administration. The County Judicial Center was constructed in 2006 to 2008.