Geauga County is named for the Native American word “sheauga sepe” meaning “raccoon”.
Surrounding County Courthouses:
N – Lake County
E – Ashtabula County and Trumbull County
S – Portage County
W – Cuyahoga County
Created: March 1, 1806 
County Seat:
New Market 1806 – 1807
Chardon 1807 – present
County Courthouse – Chardon
Location: 100 Short Court Street / Main Street
Built: 1869 – 1870
Style: High Victorian Italianate
Architect: Joseph Ireland of Cleveland
Contractor: Leander Jason Randall and Carpenter and Mathews of Meadville, Pennsylvania
Description: The building faces south and is a two story red colored brick and stone structure. The building is located on landscaped grounds of the Courthouse Square in the center of Chardon. The south front has a high square red colored brick tower rising to an open cupola with dome and clock at the top. The second story windows are long and arched. There is stone trim at the corners. The building houses the County Court of Common Pleas. The courthouse was renovated in 1977.
County Courthouse Annex – Chardon
Location: 231 Main Street / Short Court Street
Built: 1874 – 1875
Style: High Victorian Italianate
Architect: Unknown
Contractor: Unknown
Description: The building faces east and is a two story red colored brick and concrete structure. The rectangular shaped building is located on landscaped grounds in the center of Chardon. The building was constructed as the Memorial Hall. There is a large arched window on the third story of the south section. The roof line is flat. The building houses the County Court of Common Pleas – Probate and Juvenile Divisions.
See: Ohio Court of Appeals – Warren ( 11th Appellate District )
History: The county was created in 1806 and New Market was selected as the county seat. The first courthouse was built. The county seat was moved to Chardon in 1807 and the second courthouse a one room log structure was built in 1807 to 1808. The third courthouse was a brick structure designed by Samuel King and built in 1813 at a cost of $750. The fourth courthouse was a two story brick structure built in 1826. The courthouse burned in 1865. The fifth and present courthouse was constructed in 1869 to 1870 at a cost of $88,862.
County Courthouse – Chardon
County Courthouse Annex – Chardon
Photos taken 2010
Images 9