Pike County - American Courthouses

Pike County is named for Zebulon M Pike, who was an officer during the American Revolutionary War and who discovered Pikes Peak in 1806.

Surrounding County Courthouses:

N – Ross County

E – Jackson County

S – Scioto County and Adams County

W – Highland County

Created: February 1, 1815

County Seat:

Piketon 1815 – 1861

Waverly 1861 – present

County Courthouse – Waverly

Location: 100 East 2nd Street / North Market Street

Built: 1865 – 1866

Style: Italianate

Architect: Pike County Committee

Contractor: James Emmitt.

Description: The building faces northwest and is a three story red colored brick structure. The building is located on landscaped grounds in the center of Waverly. The building is “T” shaped. The northwest front has a central entrance on the first story. Brick pilasters rise to the top of the third story with an arch at the center with large arched window. The roof has gable ends with square white colored cupola with gold colored dome towards the front. The two story south wing has large arches and high windows. The County Court of Common Pleas courtroom is located on the second story. The building houses the County Court of Common Pleas. In 1909, a three story addition and small rooftop cupola were added on the northwest side. The architect was Desjardins & Sheblessy of Cincinnati and the contractor was David Armbrust of Waverly.

See: Ohio Court of Appeals – Chillicothe ( 4th Appellate District )

Note: James Emmitt promised to build the courthouse if the county seat was moved to Waverly. When the courthouse was not built, Piketon petitioned to have the county seat returned. The courthouse was then built and deeded to the county in 1866.

County Government Center – Waverly

Location: 230 Waverly Plaza / East 2nd Street

Built: Unknown

Style: Modern Shopping Center

Architect: McCarty Associates ( conversion )

Contractor: Dursco Construction ( conversion )

Description: The building faces west and is a one story buff colored brick and concrete structure. The building is located on the north side of the center of Waverly. The building was formerly a Kmart Shopping Center and was converted in 2001 to house the court and county offices.The west front has a central entrance with recessed porch. The roof line is flat. The building is named as the Pike County Government Center.

Old County Courthouse – Piketon

Location: 113 North Market Street / Main Street

Built: 1817 – 1819

Style: Federal

Architect: Unknown

Contractor: Unknown

Description: The building faces north and is a two story red colored brick structure. The building is located on landscaped grounds in the heritage park in the center of Piketon. The building is rectangular with a hipped roof. There is a central entrance on the north front. The building served as the courthouse until 1861 when the county seat was moved to Waverly.

History: The county was created in 1815 and Piketon was selected as the county seat. The first courthouse was a two story red colored brick structure built in 1817 to 1819. The county seat was moved to Waverly in 1861. The second and present courthouse was constructed in 1865 to 1866.