Shiawassee County is named for the Shiawassee River and means in the Native American language “river that twists about”.
Surrounding County Courthouses:
N – Saginaw County
E – Genesee County
S – Livingston County and Ingham County
W – Clinton County
Created: September 10, 1831 
County Seat:
Byron 1837
Corunna 1837 – present
County Courthouse – Corunna
Location: 208 North Shiawassee Street / East McArthur Street
Built: 1903 – 1904
Style: Beaux Arts
Architect: Claire Allen of Jackson
Contractor: George Rickman and Sons of Kalamazoo
Description: The building faces west and is a three story limestone and concrete structure. The rectangular shaped building is located on the landscaped grounds of the Courthouse Square in the center of Corunna. The building is constructed of Bedford limestone. On the west side is a large portico supported by four high white colored Corinthian columns with a decorative pediment at the roof line. The cornice projects along the roof line. On the center of the roof is an elegant clock tower with Corinthian columns and domed roof. In the interior there is a rotunda under the clock tower which is ringed with elegant metalwork railings. The stairway has similar railings. There is a large mural depicting free speech and free press. On the second story is the courtroom which is oak paneled and features elaborate stenciling and murals. The ceiling has a large dome with stained glass and paintings of twelve winged female figures holding the sign of the zodiac. The building houses the County Circuit Court of the 35th Judicial District.
See: The architect, Claire Allen of Jackson, also designed courthouses in Gratiot County, Hillsdale County and Van Buren County.
County Judicial Center – Corunna
Location: 110 East Mack Street / North Shiawassee Street
Built: Unknown
Style: Modern
Architect: Unknown
Contractor: Unknown
Description: The building faces north and is a one story brown colored brick and concrete structure. The roof line is flat.
History: The county was created in 1822 and Byron was selected as the county seat when the county was organized. In same year, the county seat was moved to Corunna. The court first met in a schoolhouse and then at the house of Lucius W Beach. Later the court had space above the store of Gould, Fish and Company. In 1839, a wooden office building was built by Stephen Hawkins at a cost of $383. In 1850, the first courthouse, a two story brick structure was built by George O Backman at a cost of $4,500. The second and present courthouse was constructed in 1903 to 1904 at a cost of $140,000.
See: Michigan’s County Courthouses by John Fedynsky
County Courthouse - Corunna
County Judicial Center - Corunna
Photos taken 2008