Eaton County - American Courthouses

Eaton County is named for John H Eaton, who was a United States Secretary of War.

Surrounding County Courthouses:

N – Ionia County and Clinton County

E – Ingham County

S – Jackson County and Calhoun County

W – Barry County

Created: October 29, 1829

County Seat:

Belleview 1833 – 1840

Charlotte 1840 – present

County Courthouse – Charlotte

Location: 1045 Independence Boulevard / Court House Drive

Built: 1975 – 1976

Style: Modern

Architect: Robert Cain and Associates of Kalamazoo

Contractor: TerHorst & Rinzema Construction Company of Grand Rapids

Description: The building faces east and is a two story reddish colored brick, glass and concrete structure. The building is located on landscaped grounds to the north of the center of Charlotte. The building has a high brick clock tower in front of the entrance. The south wing is two stories and has white colored concrete facing on the second story. The center entrance is one story with a round brick north wing. The building houses the County Circuit Court of the 56th Judicial District, County District Court and County Probate Court.

Old County Courthouse – Charlotte

Location: 100 West Lawrence Avenue / Cochran Street

Built: 1883 – 1885

Style: Renaissance Revival

Architect: David W Gibbs of Gibbs and Company of Toledo, Ohio

Contractor: Miles, Cramer & Horn of Toledo

Description: The building faces south and is a two story red colored brick and Bera sandstone structure. The building is located on the landscaped grounds of the Courthouse Square in the center of Charlotte. The raised basement is rough cut fieldstone. On the center of the roof is a white colored square cupola with clock and Statue of Justice at the top. The interior is finished in native walnut and butternut. Two staircases ascend to an elevated rotunda with colored glass skylight. The former courtroom occupies the entire west side of the second story and is finished in walnut. The building was renovated in 1952. On the northwest side is the Old Sheriff’s Residence built in 1873.

See: The courthouse is similar to the courthouse in Fayette County and Marion County, in Ohio all designed by David W Gibbs.

See: National Register of Historic Places – Eaton County Courthouse

Old County Courthouse – Charlotte

Location: South Cochran Avenue / Bennett Park

Built: 1845 – 1846

Style: Greek Revival

Architect: S E Millett and Lewis Scour.

Contractor: S E Millett and Lewis Scour.

Description: The building faces west and is a one story white colored wood structure. The building is located in Bennert Park in the center of Charlotte.

History: The first courthouse was erected in Belleview shortly after 1833. The county seat was moved to Charlotte in 1840 and the second courthouse was built in 1845 to 1846, which is still standing. The third courthouse was built in 1883 to 1885 and is still standing. The fourth and present courthouse was constructed in 1975 to 1976.

See: Michigan’s County Courthouses by John Fedynsky