Jennings County

US States / H-L / Indiana / Jennings County
Jennings

Jennings County is named for Jonathan Jennings, who was the first Governor of Indiana and a nine term congressman.

 

Surrounding County Courthouses: 

N – Bartholomew County and Decatur County

E – Ripley County

S – Jefferson County and Scott County

W – Jackson County

 

Created:  December 27, 1816                                                    Map of Indiana highlighting Jennings County

County Seat: 

Vernon  1817 – present

 

County Courthouse – Vernon  

 

Location:  24 North Pike Street / Jackson Street

Built:  1858 – 1860

Style:  Italianate

Architect:  Isaac Hodgson of Indianapolis

Contractor:  Samuel Read of Vernon

 

Description:  The building faces west and is a three story red colored brick structure. The building is located on landscaped grounds in the center of Vernon. The stone was quarried locally. The west entrance has an arch which is trimmed with stone and a recessed doorway. On the northwest corner rises a five story square clock tower with wide cornice at the top. Stone trim decorates the windows. The roof is hipped. The building houses the County Circuit Court and the County Superior Court of the 21st Judicial District. The building was renovated in 1885 to 1987. The architect was Mozingo Associates Architects Inc. and the contractor was Taylor Brothers Construction Company. On the north side is the County Government Center.

 

See:  The 21st Judicial District includes Bartholomew CountyBrown CountyDecatur County and Jackson County.

 

History:  The county was created in 1816 and Vernon was selected as the county seat in 1817. The first county meetings were held in the private residence of Achilles Vawter. The first courthouse was a log schoolhouse built by Achilles Vawter, David McClure and Joel Butle in 1815 and used as the courthouse in 1817. The second courthouse was a brick structure built in 1830.  The third and present courthouse was constructed in 1858 to 1860 at a cost of $26,375.

 

County Government Center – Vernon  

 

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Location:  200 East Brown Street / Perry Street

Built:  1998 – 1999

Style:  Modern

Architect:  Prince / Alexander Architects, Inc.

Contractor:  Prince / Alexander Architects, Inc. and Dennis Jones

 

Description:  The building faces south and is a two story red colored brick and concrete structure. The building is located on landscaped grounds in the center of Vernon to the north of the courthouse. The south front has a one story porch on the west side. The center section has three long arched windows. On the southwest corner is a three story tower with windows on the third story. 

 

 

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County Courthouse – Vernon

 

 

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County Govenment Center – Vernon

 

 

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Photos taken 2008