Ashtabula County is named for the Ashtabula River which means “fish river” or “river of many fish” in the Algonguian language.
Created: June 7, 1807
County Seat:
Jefferson 1807 – present
Old County Courthouse – Jefferson
Location: NW – West Jefferson Street / North Chestnut Street
Built: 1836 – 1837
Style: Italianate
Architect: Willis Smith of Kinsman
Contractor: Willis Smith of Kinsman
Description: The building faces south and is a two story red colored brick structure. The south front has a square red colored brick tower with four columns on the first story with recessed entrance. The roof is pitched. After a fire in 1850, the building was rebuilt. The contractor was Benjamin Wade. The building was enlarged in 1891. The architect was John Woolly and the contractor was Timothy Caldwell. The building was renovated in 1910. The architect was J L Wilson. The building now houses the County Commissioners.
Note: The building was built on the framework of an earlier courthouse from 1836 which was destroyed by a fire.
County Courthouse – Jefferson
Location: 25 West Jefferson Street / North Chestnut Street
Built: 1969 – 1970
Style: Modern
Architect: Kujala and Koski
Contractor: Burns Construction Company
Description: The building faces east and is a two story buff colored brick, glass and concrete structure. The east front has a glass wall section at the north end which projects from the main building. The central entrance has glass windows above on the second story. The roof line is flat.
Lawyers Row – Jefferson
Location: 25 West Jefferson Street / North Chestnut Street
Built: 1869 – 1870
Style: Italianate
Architect: J M Watters
Contractor: J M Watters
Description: The building faces south and is a two story red colored brick structure. The building is located on the north side of the old courthouse.
Courthouses:
N – Lake Erie and Ontario, Canada
E – Erie County, Pennsylvania and Crawford County, Pennsylvania
S – Trumbull County
W – Geauga County and Lake County
Old County Courthouse
County Courthouse
Photos taken 2010