Wayne County | US Courthouses

Wayne County is named for Anthony Wayne, who was a General in the American Revolutionary War, and who lived from 1745 to 1796.

Surrounding County Courthouses:

N – Randolph County

E – Darke County, Ohio and Preble County, Ohio

S – Union County and Fayette County

W – Fayette County and Henry County

Created: November 27, 1810

County Seat:

Salisbury 1811 – 1817

Centerville 1817 – 1873

Richmond 1873 – present

County Courthouse – Richmond

Location: 301 East Main Street / South 4th Street

Built: 1890 – 1893

Style: Richardsonian Romanesque

Architect: James W McLaughlin of Cincinnati, Ohio

Contractor: Aaron G Campfield & Company of Richmond

Description: The building faces east and is a three story gray colored stone structure. The “U” shaped building is located on landscaped grounds in the center of Richmond. The walls are brick with a veneer of Indiana limestone. The complex roof of hips and gables is steeply pitched and covered with asphalt tiles which replace the original slate. The east center has three arches on the first story and arched arches on the second story. Above are narrow vertical windows on the third story with a large arch bisected by small windows and reaching a peak at the roof. On the northeast corner is a three story octagonal tower with step black colored roof. The interior is laid out around a central stairhall which rises from the basement to the ceiling of the third floor in an open well approximately 16 feet square. The wide stair from the first to the second floors has two straight runs with an intermediate landing. There are limestone risers, marble treads, and a heavy polished marble railing with large balusters. On the second floor the stair well is framed by polished red colored granite columns which support the arched walls of the well on the third floor. Most of the golden oak and glazed tile fireplaces are still in place. The courtrooms are located on the second story. The building houses the County Circuit Court and the County Superior Court of the 18th Judicial District.

See: The contractor, Aaron G Campfield also constructed courthouses in Hamilton County and Randolph County.

See: National Register of Historic Places – Wayne County Courthouse

See: The 18th Judicial District includes Union County.

History: The county was created in 1810 and Salisbury was selected as the county seat in 1811. A two story log structure was erected by William Commons in 1811. A replica was built in 1952 and is located in Centerville. The county seat was moved to Centerville in 1817. The second courthouse was built by William Commons in 1818. The county jail was built in 1867 at a cost of $80,000. The county seat was moved to Richmond in 1873 and the third courthouse was built. The fourth and present courthouse was constructed in 1890 to 1893.

County Administration Building – Richmond

Location: 401 East Main Street / South 4th Street

Built: 1976 – 1978

Style: Modern

Architect: R W Clinton and Associates

Contractor: Oberle Associates and Wagner-Martin Company

Description: The building faces west and is a two story concrete and glass structure. The building is located on landscaped grounds in the center of Richmond on the east side of the courthouse. The building in “L” shaped with the first story below ground level. The west side has sloped glass panels. The roof line is flat.

Old County Jail – Centerville

Location: 126 East Main Street / North 1st Street

Built: 1867 – 1868

Style: Classical Revival

Architect: Unknown

Contractor: Unknown

Description: The building faces south and is a two story red colored brick structure. The building is located on landscaped grounds in the center of Centerville. The south front has a slightly projecting center section rising to a pediment at the roof line and with recessed arched entrance on the first story and ached window on the second story. There are double arched windows. The building is now the Centerville-Center Township Public Library. A large addition was added on the west and north sides while preserving intact the south-facing front façade of the original jail. It was dedicated in December 1999.

Old Salisbury County Courthouse – Centerville

Location: 214 East Main Street / North 1st Street

Built: 1952 ( 1811 )

Style: Log Cabin

Architect: William Commons ( 1811 )

Contractor: William Commins ( 1811 )

Description: The building was built in 1952 and faces south and is a replica of the 1811 County Courthouse built by William Commons in Salisbury. The building is located on landscaped grounds in the center of Centerville and is a two story log cabin structure with central entrance and vertical windows on the first story. The roof is hipped.

Note: The highest point in IIndiana is Hoosier Hill at 1,257 feet ( 383 meters ) which is located in the county.