Platte County is named for the Platte River which is named after the French word meaning “flat” or “shallow”.
Created: December 31, 1838
County Seat:
Platte City 1834 – present
County Courthouse – Platte City
Location: 328 Main Street / 4th Street
Built: 1866 – 1867
Style: Federalist
Architect: Peter McDuff
Contractor: J A McGonigle
Description: The building faces south and is a two story red colored brick structure. The building is located on landscaped grounds. The building is cross shaped with east and west wings. The south front has a triple arch entrance on the first story, arched windows on the second story and a wide pediment at the roof. The building was originally 80 feet by 100 feet but additions have been added on the north side. There is stone trim at the corners.
Note: The first courthouse was a log structure rented in 1840. The second courthouse was designed by Demetrius A Sutton in 1841 to 1842. Medlin and Anderson did the stone work, David Hunt, the brick work. The building was destroyed during the Civil War. The cost of construction of the present courthouse was $88,000.
Note: Bonnie and Clyde gang member Blanche Barrow was tried and convicted here in 1933.
County Government Center – Platte City
Location: 328 Main Street / 4th Street
Built: 1996 – 1998
Style: Modern
Architect: WRS Architects and Shaughnessy Fickel and Scott Architects Inc.
Contractor: J E Dunn Construction Company.
Description: The buildings face west and south are two story red colored brick, concrete and glass structures and sit on the north side of the courthouse. The south section faces west and has a curved section at the roof line. The windows are large. On the north side is a separate structure with projecting center section with large arched window and peaked roof above. The building has tiered wings with horizontal wings. The roof line is flat.
Courthouses:
N – Buchanan County
E – Clinton County and Clay County
S – Wyandotte County, Kansas
W – Leavenworth County, Kansas and Atchison County, Kansas
Photos taken 2009