Monroe County is named for James Monroe, who was the fifth President of the United States from 1817 to 1825.
Surrounding County Courthouses:
N – Shelby County and Marion County
E – Ralls County
S – Audrain County
W – Randolph County
Created: January 6, 1831
County Seat:
Paris 1831 – present
County Courthouse – Paris
Location: 300 North Main Street / East Monroe Street
Built: 1912 – 1913
Style: Renaissance Revival
Architect: William W Rose and David B Peterson of Kansas City
Contractor: Henning Construction Company
Description: The building faces west and is a three story gray colored Bedford limestone, granite, marble and concrete structure. The building is located on landscaped grounds in the center of Paris. The building is 108 feet by 82 feet and the west front has a recessed first story entrance with two large columns rising from the second story to the top of the third story which has a raised parapet above the roof line. The first story is rusticated stone with smooth stone on the upper stories. There is a wide eave at the roof line. On the center of the building is a dome with red colored roof and clock. In the interior, the central rotunda has four murals painted by Doris Hill of Paris. The Great Seal of Missouri is featured in mosaic tile on the floor of the rotunda. The County Circuit Court courtroom is located on the west side of the third story. The building houses the County Circuit Court of the 10th Judicial Circuit.
Note: The courthouse was the last domed courthouse built in Missouri.
See: The 10th Judicial Circuit includes Marion County, Monroe County and Ralls County.
History: The county was created in 1831 and Paris was selected as the county seat. The first courthouse was a two story white colored stone foundation brick structure designed by Sylvester Hagin and built by Pavey and Orr. Bin 1831 at a cost of $3,000. The courthouse burned in December 1861. The second courthouse was built in 1867 to 1869 at a cost of $37,452 by Burton Edwards of Macon, and it was a two story brick structure, The building was razed in 1912. The third and present courthouse was constructed in 1912 to 1913 at a cost of $83,450.
County Courthouse – Paris
County Circuit Court courtroom
Photos taken 2009