Pope County

US States / H-L / Illinois / Pope County
Pope

Pope County is named for Nathaniel Pope, who was the first Territorial Secretary of State from 1806 to 1816.

 

Surrounding County Courthouses: 

N – Saline County

E – Hardin County and Livingston County, Kentucky

S – Livingston County, Kentucky

W – Massac County and Johnson County

 

Created:  January 10, 1816                                                        Map of Illinois highlighting Pope County

County Seat:

Golconda  1816 – present

 

County Courthouse – Golconda

 

Location:  310 East Main Street / Market Street

Built:  1872 – 1873

Style:  Federal

Architect:  Young and Frick

Contractor:  Yost & Layman

 

Description: The building faces north and is a two story rectangular red colored brick structure. The building is located on spacious landscaped grounds in the center of Golconda. The north front projects from the main building and has an arched entrance on the first story. The windows are arched on both stories and there is stone trim above each window. The building has a gable roof and brick walls, and a prominent belt course separates the two stories. Six windows are placed in three bays on the side, while the front of the building is pierced by a single side window and three facade openings on each floor: a central door and two windows on the first story, and three windows on the second story. An oculus is set amid a pediment above the second story of the facade. The base of the building is course stone. The building houses the County Circuit Court of the 1st Judicial Circuit.

 

See:  The 1st Judicial Circuit includes Alexander County, Jackson County, Johnson County, Massac CountyPulaski CountySaline County, Union County and Williamson County.

 

History:  The county was created in 1816 and Golconda was selected as the county seat. The first court met at the home of Thomas Ferguson in 1816. The first courthouse was a log structure built by Robert Scott at a cost of $66. The second courthouse was built by James Hankins and Daniel Field in 1831 to 1833. The third and present courthouse was constructed in 1872 to 1873 at a cost of $20,000.

 

 

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County Courthouse - Golconda

 

 

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Photos taken 2008