Johnson County

US States / N / Nebraska / Johnson County
Johnson

Johnson County is named for Richard M. Johnson, who was Vice-President of the United States of America from 1837 to 1841.

 

Surrounding County Courthouses: 

N – Otoe County

E – Nemaha County

S – Pawnee County

W – Gage County

 

Created:  March 2, 1855                         Map of Nebraska highlighting Johnson County

County Seat:

Tecumseh  1857 – present

 

County Courthouse –  Tecumseh  

 

Location:  Courthouse Square – South 3rd Street / Broadway Street

Built:  1888 – 1889

Style:   Classical Revival and Romanesque

Architect:  William Gray of Lincoln

Contractor:  W B Schmucker of Falls City

 

Description:  The building faces west and is a two story red colored brick and stone structure. The rectangular shaped building is located on landscaped grounds in the center of Tecumseh. The building has a raised white colored stone basement. A variety of materials adorn the courthouse including Cherry red St. Joseph brick and Nemaha County limestone, which is variously rough cut, smooth, and also carved. The building has porticos on the north, west and south sides with three brick pillars on the first story and six thin columns on the second story, rising to a pediment. The corners on each side project from the building and have pediments with small black colored domes. On the center of the building is an octagonal cupola with Corinthian capitals, elaborate bull’s-eye windows, steep dome and small cupola at the top. In the interior the hallways cross beneath the dome. On the first story is the Commissioners’ meeting room. Original features include pressed metal ceilings in offices, some fireplaces, wood floors in halls, oak counters, woodwork with bull’s-eyes and other carving and some decorated door hinges. Wainscoting is used below double-hung wood frame windows and in halls, where is it painted. Stairs to the second story are only at the south end of the building and the ceilings have patterned pressed metal. The large combined County District Court and County Court courtroom is located on the second story and occupies the entire north portion beyond the center of the building. The building houses the District Court and County Court of the 1st Judicial District. 

 

See:  The architect, William Gray of Lincoln, also designed the courthouse in Cass County.

 

See:  National Register of Historic Places – Johnson County Courthouse

 

See:  The 1st Judicial District includes Fillmore County, Gage County, Jefferson County, Nehama CountyOtoe CountyPawnee County and Richardson CountySaline County and Thayer County.

 

History:  The county was created in 1855 and Tecumseh was selected as the county seat. The first courthouse was built in 1857 and the second courthouse was built in 1868. The third and present courthouse was constructed in 1888 to 1889 at a cost of $40,000.

 

 

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County Courthouse - Tecumseh  

 

 

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Patterned pressed metal ceiling

 

 

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County District Court and County Court courtroom

 

 

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Photos taken 2008 and 2023