Morgan County is named for Daniel Morgan, who was a pioneer, soldier and United States Representative from Virginia.
Surrounding County Courthouses:
N – Cooper County
E – Moniteau County and Miller County
S – Camden County
W – Benton County and Pettis County
Created: January 5, 1833
County Seat:
Millville 1833 – 1835
Versailles 1835 – present
County Courthouse – Versailles
Location: 100 East Newton Street / South Fisher Street
Built: 1889 – 1898
Style: Second Empire and Italianate
Architect: William F Schrage of Kansas City
Contractor: Harmon Griffith of Sedalia
Description: The building faces north and is a two story red colored brick and stone structure. The building is located on landscaped grounds of the Public Square in the center of Versailles. The north front has a projecting center section rising to a peak and with a small porch on the first story. On each corner is a square brick tower with mansard roof. On the center of the roof is a square white colored wood cupola. The base of the building is course stone. In the interior, the first story has a north-south and an east-west corridors intersecting at the center of the building. A wooden staircase on the west side ascends to the second story. The former County Circuit Court courtroom is located on the east side of the second story and is has been converted for use as an office.
Note: The bricks used in the construction of the courthouse were manufactured by inmates of the Missouri State Penitentiary in Jefferson City. One brick beneath the south window of the recorder’s office is inscribed with the name of “J L Morrison, Warden”.
See: National Register of Historic Places Morgan County Courthouse
County Justice Center – Versailles
Location: 211 East Newton Street / Van Buren Street
Built: 1999 – 2000
Style: Modern
Architect: Archetype Design Group Inc. of Leawood, Kansas
Contractor: Curtiss-Manes-Schulte Inc. of Eldon
Description: The building faces south and is a two story concrete structure. The building is located on landscaped grounds in the center of Versailles to the east of the courthouse. The building descends a slope towards the north with the three story County Jail attached on the north side. The south front has a portico supported by blue colored columns and with a rounded roof on the second story. The roof line is flat. In the interior, the two County Circuit Court courtrooms are located on the second story.
See: The 26th Judicial Circuit includes Camden County, Laclede County, Miller County and Moniteau County.
History: The county was created in 1833 and Millville was selected as the temporary county seat. In 1835, Versailles was selected as the county seat. The first courthouse was a log house purchased on the northeast corner of the public square. The second courthouse, a small two story brick structure was built by William Burch and Colonel Young of Jefferson City in the center of the public square. The building was destroyed by fire in 1886 and in 1887. The third and present courthouse was constructed in 1889 to 1890 at a cost of $19,000. The County Justice Center was constructed in 1999 to 2000.
County Courthouse – Versailles
County Justice Center – Versailles
County Circuit Court courtroom
County Circuit Court courtroom
Photos taken 2009 and 2023
Images 25*