Gladwin County is named for Henry Gladwin, who was an English Commandant at Detroit during the Pontiac’s War.
Surrounding County Courthouses:
N – Roscommon County
E – Arenac County and Bay County
S – Midland County
W – Clare County
Created: March 1, 1831 
County Seat:
Gladwin 1875 – present
County Courthouse – Gladwin
Location: 401 West Cedar Avenue / South Bowery Avenue
Built: 1939 – 1940
Style: Art Deco
Architect: Frederick D Madison of Royal Oak
Contractor: Charles C Engelhardt Construction Company
Description: The building faces north and is a two story buff colored brick and concrete structure. The building is located on landscaped grounds in the center of Gladwin. The base of the building is concrete with the etched names of the county towns. Concrete blocks run along the roof line. The roof line is flat. In the interior is an entrance lobby with decorative ceiling and a floor depicting a Native American chief in profile. The courtroom on the second story has an Art Deco design with decorative plaster and ribbed faux stone columns. Above the judge’s bench is an octagonal bas-relief of Lady Justice, who holds scales in one hand and a sword in the other hand. The building houses the County Circuit Court of the 55th Judicial District, County District Court and County Probate Court. In 1976 an addition was built on the south side.
See: The 55th Judicial District includes Clare County.
History: The county was created in 1831 and Gladwin was selected as the county seat in 1875 when the county was organized. The county first met in the barn of Elias Steel. The first courthouse was a three story brick built by Fred Hollister of Saginawin 1786 to 1878 at a cost of $17,000. The building was razed in 1941. The second and present courthouse was constructed in 1939 to 1940 at a cost of $82,000.
See: Michigan’s County Courthouses by John Fedynsky
County Courthouse - Gladwin
Photos taken 2008 and 2010