Cole County

US States / M / Missouri / Cole County
Cole

Cole County is named for Stephen Cole, who was a Pioneer who came from Virginia in 1807.

 

Surrounding County Courthouses: 

N – Boone County and Callaway County

E – Osage County

S – Miler County

W – Moniteau County

 

Created:  November 16, 1820                Map of Missouri highlighting Cole County

County Seat:

Marion             1820 – 1831

Jefferson City  1831 – present

 

County Courthouse – Jefferson City

 

Location:  301 East High Street / Monroe Street

Built:  1896 – 1897

Style:  Romanesque Revival

Architect:  Frank Miller

Contractor:  H J Wallau

 

Description: The building faces northwest and is a four story gray colored Carthage stone structure. The first story is stone and upper stories are pressed gray colored brick. The building has a raised basement on the first story. There is copper and stone trim. The northwest front has a large stone arch at the second story entrance. On each corner is a large square stone tower with steep red colored roof. There are dormers at the roof line. On the center of the roof is a high square clock tower with steep roof. The red colored roof is hipped. In the interior are tile floors and high ceilings with arches. The building has five County Circuit Court courtrooms.  The large County Circuit Court courtroom is located on the south side of the third story and extends into the fourth story with a fourth story gallery on the east side. The small courtroom is located at the center of the west side of the fourth story with a view into the large courtroom below. The building houses the County Circuit Court of the 19th Judicial Circuit. The building was damaged by fire on March 14, 1918. The architect of the repairs was Frank Miller. On the east side is the modern three story Courthouse Annex and on the north side is the old County Jail – Sherioff’s House..

 

See:  National Register of Historic Places – Cole County Courthouse and Jail-Sheriff’s House

 

See:  The 19th Judicial District covers Cole County.

 

History:  The county was created in 1820 and Marion was selected as the county seat. The first court meeting took place at the home of John Inglish, in Marion and the first courthouse was built in 1825 at a cost of $748. In 1831, the county seat was moved to Jefferson City and the court met in the State Capitol, and in 1836 moved to the post office. The next courthouse was built by Thomas L Ferguson of Griffith and Crump under the supervision of James Dunnica, first superintendent and Henry Robinson, second superintendent in 1837 at a cost of $24,000. After the state capitol burned in 1837, the courthouse provided space for the state government. The cost for the construction of the present courthouse was $60,000. The cost of repairing the courthouse in 1918 war $48,000.

 

See:  The Missouri Supreme Court is located in Jefferson City.

 

 

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County Courthouse – Jefferson City

 

 

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County Circuit Court courtroom

 

 

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County Circuit Court small courtroom

 

 

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County Courthouse Annex – Jefferson City

 

 

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Old County Jail – Sheriff’s House – Jefferson City

 

 

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Photos taken 2009 and 2023