Clinton County is named for DeWitt Clinton, who was a Governor of New York and who was responsible for the construction of the Erie Canal.
Surrounding County Courthouses:
N – Madison County, Bond County and Fayette County
E – Marion County
W – St. Clair County and Madison County
Created: December 27, 1824 
County Seat:
Carlyle 1824 – present
County Courthouse – Carlyle
Location: 850 Franklin Street / 9th Street
Built: 1997 – 1999
Style: Modern
Architect: Kuhlmann Design Group and Phillips Swager and Associates
Contractor: Plocher Construction, Inc
Description: The building faces north and is a three story red colored brick, concrete and glass structure. The building is located on spacious landscaped grounds in the center of Carlyle. The north front has a projecting center section with glass panels at the entrance on the second story and on the third story. The east and west wings project from the main building and there are horizontal bands between the second and third stories and along the flat roof line. The building houses the County Circuit Court of the 4th Judicial Circuit.
See: The 4th Judicial District includes Christian County, Clay County, Effingham County, Fayette County, Jasper County, Marion County, Montgomery County and Shelby County.
History: The county was created in 1824 and Carlyle was selected as the county seat. The first courthouse was built around 1825. The second courthouse was a two story brick structure built in 1849 to 1850. An addition was built in 1883. In 1997 the courthouse ceased to be used and the county was without a courthouse for two years. The third and present courthouse was constructed in 1997 to 1999 at a cost of $4,725,500.
County Courthouse – Carlyle
Picture 1850 County Courthouse
Commissioner Minutes 1997
Photos taken 2007 and 2012