Yates County is named for Joseph C Yates, who was the eight Governor of New York.
Surrounding County Courthouses:
N – Ontario County
E – Seneca County and Schuyler County
S – Schuyler County and Steuben County
W – Steuben County and Ontario County
Created: February 5, 1823 
County Seat:
Penn Yan 1823 – present
County Courthouse – Penn Yan
Location: 415 Liberty Street / Chappel Street
Built: 2001 – 2003
Style: Modern
Architect: MRB Group
Contractor: Bovis Lend Lease
Description: The building faces west and is a two story red colored brick, glass and concrete structure. The west front has a high portico supported by four columns with pediment at the roof line. The base of the building is white colored concrete. There are large arched windows. A white colored band runs below the roof line. The roof is hipped.
Old County Courthouse – Penn Yan
Location: 415 Liberty Street / Chappel Street
Built: 1834 – 1835
Style: Greek Revival
Architect: William Shattuck of Benton and George Sherman and Samuel Stewart of Milo
Contractor: William Shattuck of Benton and George Sherman and Samuel Stewart of Milo
Description: The building faces east and is a two story red colored brick structure. The building is located in the Courthouse Park with the old Clerk’s office on the north side. The east side has a large tetrastyle wooden portico with four white colored Doric columns. Above is a wide pediment surmounted by a louvered white colored cupola and bell tower on the ridge of the gable roof. The fine design and carving of the central oak doors is also found throughout the interior on the oak stairways, wainscoting, windows and door moldings. On the west side is a sympathetic brick rear addition which was constructed in 1909.
See: The 7th Judicial District includes Cayuga County, Livingston County, Monroe County, Ontario County, Seneca County, Steuben County and Wayne County.
Old County Office – Penn Yan
Location: 415 Liberty Street / Chappel Street
Built: 1888 – 1889
Style: Romanesque Revival
Architect: Unknown
Contractor: Unknown
Description: The building faces east and is a two story red colored brick structure. The building is along the south side of the old courthouse. The building has Romanesque arches, corbeled brick and stone lintels. The east front has two large arches with recessed arched windows. The northeast corner has a square tower. On the roof is peaked. The two modern rear additions were constructed in 1957 and 1969.
Note: The cost of construction was $11,000. On the lawn in front of the courthouse is the Civil War Monument.
County Administration Building – Penn Yan
Location: 415 Liberty Street / Chappel Street
Built: 2001 – 2003
Style: Modern
Architect: MRB Group
Contractor: Bovis Lend Lease
Description: The building faces south and is a two story red colored brick, glass and concrete structure. The south front has a one story portico supported by two pillars. Above at the roof line is a large peaked section. The roof on the west side is hipped.
County Courthouse – Penn Yan
Photos taken 2010