Washtenaw County is named for the Native American word “wash-ten-ong” meaning “at or on the river”.
Surrounding County Courthouses:
N – Livingston County and Oakland County
E – Wayne County
S – Monroe County and Lenawee County
W – Ingham County
Created: September 10, 1822 
County Seat:
Ann Arbor 1826 – present
County Courthouse – Ann Arbor
Location: 101 East Huron Street / North Main Street
Built: 1954 – 1955
Style: Modern
Architect: Ralph S Gerganoff of Ypsilanti
Contractor: A W Kutsche & Company
Description: The building faces south and is a three story white colored stone, glass and concrete structure. The building is “L” shaped. with a south and west wing. The building is located on landscaped grounds in the center of Ann Arbor. The southwest section has a central entrance with glass panels rising to the flat roof line. The southeast section has glass walls. The roof line is flat. The building houses the County Circuit Court of the 22nd Judicial District. The building was constructed around the old courthouse which was demolished.
Note: The previous courthouse was designed by G W Bunting of Indianapolis, Indiana and constructed by McCormick & Sweeny of Columbus, Indiana in 1877 to 1878. The cost of construction was $83,000. The present courthouse was constructed around the old courthouse which was later demolished.
See: The architect, Ralph S Gerganoff of Ypsilanti, designed courthouses in Alcona County, Allegan County, Arenac County and Charlevoix County, and with Stephen T Gerganoff of Ypsilanti in Huron County.
History: The county was created in 1822 and Ann Arbor was selected as the county seat in 1826 when the county was organized. Court convened at the residence of Erastus Priest in 1827The first courthouse was a two-story brown colored brick structure built by John Bryan in 1834 at a cost of $5,350. The second courthouse was designed by G W Bunting of Indianapolis, Indiana and built by McCormick & Sweeeney of Columbus, Indianain 1877 at a cost of $83,000. The third and present courthouse was constructed in 1954 to 1955.
See: Michigan’s County Courthouses by John Fedynsky
Other Branch Courthouses
County Courthouse - Ann Arbor
Photos taken 2008