Johnson County is named for Richard Mentor Johnson, who was the ninth Vice President of the United States.
Surrounding County Courthouses:
N – Lafayette County
E – Pettis County
S – Henry County
W – Cass County and Jackson County
Created: December 13, 1834
County Seat:
Warrensburg 1834 – present
County Courthouse – Warrensburg
Location: 300 North Holden Street / West Market Street
Built: 1896 – 1898
Style: Richardsonian Romanesque
Architect: George E McDonald of Omaha, Nebraska
Contractor: J M Anderson of Emporia, Kansas.
Description: The building faces east and is a two story Warrensburg sandstone structure. The building is located on the landscaped grounds of the Courthouse Square in the center of Warrensburg. The building is 84 feet by 104 feet and has a raised basement. The east front has a projecting center section rising to a peak with archway at the entrance and three arched windows on the second story. Each corner has a large square stone tower with domed roof. On the center of the roof is a square stone clock tower with dome. Atop the dome is a statue of Justice. The building was renovated in 2025 to 2028 by Straub Construction Company, Inc. if Shawnee, Kansas.
Note: The lowest bid for construction of the courthouses was from J M Anderson of Emporia, Kansas at $49,885.
See: The architect, George E McDonald of Omaha, Nebraska, designed courthouses in Kansas in Elk County; in Missouri in Andrew County, Bates County and Lawrence County and in Nebraska in Fillmore County and Nuckolls County.
See: National Register of Historic Places – Johnson County Courthouse
County Justice Center – Warrensburg
Location: 101 West Market Street / N Holden Street
Built: 2001 – 2002
Style: Modern
Architect: ACI/Boland Inc.
Contractor: Universal Construction Company Inc.
Description: The building faces south and is a two story red colored brick, concrete and glass structure. The south front has a projecting portico with recessed entrance. The top part of the building is white colored concrete. The second story is recessed. The roof line is flat. On the west side is red colored brick two story section. The building houses the County Circuit Court of the 17th Judicial Circuit. The building is directly north of the courthouse.
Old County Courthouse – Warrensburg
Location: 302 North Main Street / West Market Street
Built: 1838 – 1842
Style: Federal
Architect: Harvey Dyer
Contractor: William N Wade
Description: The building faces east and is a two story cream colored stuccoed brick structure. The east front has a central arched entrance. The foundation is locally quarried limestone. The roof is hipped. The building is located on the Old Public Square.
Note: After 1871, the Old Courthouse was used as a school, a church, a courthouse again for a year, and finally a private residence during which time it was repeatedly remodeled. In 1965, the Johnson County Historical Society purchased the property and began restoration and preservation efforts guided by the original specifications.
See: National Register of Historic Places – Old Johnson County Courthouse
See: The 17th Judicial Circuit includes Cass County.
History: The county was created in 1834 and Warrensburg was selected as the county seat. The county met at various locations. The first courthouse was a two story brick building designed by Harvey Dyer and built by William N Wade in 1838 to 1842 on the Old Public Square at a cost of $2,800 and is still standing. The second courthouse was a simple frame structure located on the west side of the Old Public Square. The building was donated by Warrensburg in 1875 and served until 1898. The third and present courthouse was constructed in 1896 to 1898 on the new Courthouse Square. The County Justice Center was constructed in 2001 to 2002.
County Courthouse – Warrensburg
County Justice Center – Warrensburg
Photos taken 2009 and 2026
Images 10