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 
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 County, Chautaugua 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
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.
County Courthouse – Paola
County District Court courtroom
County District Court small courtroom
County Administration Building – Paola
Photos taken 2009 and 2023