Miami County

US States / H-L / Kansas / Miami County
Miami

Miami County is named for the Miami Native American Indian tribe who resided in the region.

 

Surrounding County Courthouses: 

N – Johnson County

E – Cass County, Missouri and Bates County, Missouri

S – Linn County

W – Franklin County

 

Created:  June 3, 1861                           Map of Kansas highlighting Miami County

County Seat:

Paola  1861 – present

 

County Courthouse – Paola 

 

Location:  120 South Pearl Street / West Shawnee Street

Built:  1897 – 1899

Style:  Romanesque Revival

Architect:  George P Washburn & Sons of Ottawa

Contractor:  L W Divelbis of Olathe

 

Description: The building faces east and is a two story red colored brick and stone structure. The building is located on spacious landscaped grounds in the center of Paola. The east front has a porch on the first story supported by four square brick pillars. On the second story is a large arched window. On the southeast corner rises a four story square red colored brick clock tower with steep roof. The other corners have smaller towers with steep roofs. The center section on each side has a gable. The base is white colored Carthage limestone. The walls are built of hydraulic pressed bricks and there are black and red colored slate on the towers and gables. The roof is hipped. In the interior, the large County District Court courtroom is located at the center of the second story and has quartered oak with a natural finish. At both the north and south ends of the courtroom are large arched stain glass winds. On the south side of the first story is the small courtroom. The building houses the County District Court of the 6th Judicial District. 

 

Note:  The contract was let to L W Divelbis of Olathe, but he did not fulfill the terms of the contract and was relieved of the work. The commissioners decided to supervise the finishing of the building. The cost amounted to an amount under $90,000.

 

Note: The architect, George P Washburn & Sons, designed courthouses in Anderson County, Atchison County, Butler CountyChautaugua County, Doniphan County, Franklin County, Harper County, Kingman County, Pratt County and Woodson County and Beaver County in Oklahoma.

 

See:  National Register of Historic Places – Miami County Courthouse

 

See:  The 6th Judicial District includes Bourbon County and Linn County.

 

History:  The county was created in 1861 and Paola was selected as the county seat. The first county offices were located in several rented locations. In 1869, the court and offices were located on the second story of the Rainey Building erected by William Grove Rainey on the southwest corner of the Courthouse Square in 1869 in Paola. In 1876, the county purchased the old Paola School for $9,200 which became the first courthouse. The second and present courthouse was constructed in 1897 to 1899 at a cost of $90,000.

 

County Administration – Paola 

 

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Location:  121 South Pearl Street / East Shawnee Street

Built:  1997 – 1998

Style:  Modern

Architect:  Pettijohn – Kinney

Contractor:  National Contractors

 

Description: The building faces west and is a two story red colored brick and concrete  structure. The building is located in the center of Paola on the east side of the courthouse. The west front has a large square  tower with the north section extending west to the street line.

 

 

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County Courthouse – Paola

 

 

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County District Court courtroom

 

 

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County District Court small courtroom

 

 

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County Administration Building – Paola

 

 

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Photos taken 2009 and 2023