Montgomery County

US States / O-U / Pennsylvania / Montgomery County
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Montgomery County is named for Richard Montgomery, who was a United States general killed in the American Revolutionary War, or for the County of Montgomeryshire in Wales.

 

Surrounding County Courthouses: 

N – Berks County and Lehigh County

E – Bucks County

S – Philadelphia County

W – Delaware County and Chester County

 

Created:  September 10, 1784               Map of Pennsylvania highlighting Montgomery County

County Seat:

Norristown   1784 – present

 

 County Courthouse - Norristown   

 

Location:  2 East Airy Street / Swede Street

Built:  1853 – 1854

Style:  Neo-Classical

Architect:  Napoleon Eugene Henry Charles LeBrun

Contractor:  Unknown

 

Description:  The building faces northwest and is a two story stone structure. The building is located on raised landscaped grounds in the center of Norristown. The northwest front has a large portico with six high columns rising to a pediment at the roof line.  On the flat roof is a large dome with green colored dome with clocks. The building houses the County Court of Common Pleas (Criminal) and County Court of Common Pleas (Civil).  The building was remodeled in 1902 to 1904. The architect was Schermerhorn & Reinhold and the contractor was William Miller & Son. The building was renovated in 1914 and in 1929 when the architect was Rankin & Kellogg. The building was renovated in 1942 and in 1968 when the architect was Vincent G Kling & Associates. On the east side is a large annex constructed in 1929.

 

County Justice Center - Norristown   

 

Location:  350 Swede Street / East Main Street

Built:  2021 – 2026

Style:  Modern

Architect:  Skidmore, Owings & Merrit

Contractor:  Shanska Construction of San Francisco, California.

Description:  The building faces northwest and is a six story glass and concrete structure. The building is located on landscaped grounds in the center of Norristown along the south side of the courthouse. The structure rises in tiered layers. The roof line is flat The building houses 18 courtrooms. The building is presently under construction.

 

Old County Courthouse - Norristown   

 

Location:  420 West Germantown Pike / Barley Sheaf Drive

Built:  1737

Style:  Federal

Architect:  Robert Shannon

Contractor:  Robert Shannon

 

Description:  The building faces north and is a two story flagstone ad wood frame structure. The building is located on landscaped grounds to the north of the center of Norristown. The roof is hipped. The building served as the first county courthouse from 1784 to 1787 and now houses offices..

 

History:  The county was created in 1784 and Norristown was selected as the county seat. The first courts met in the Barley Sheaf Inn which served as the first courthouse from 1784 to 1787 and is still standing. The second courthouse was a two story frame structure built in 1787 with office built in 1791. The third and present courthouse was constructed in 1853 to 1854. The County Justice Center is being constructed in 2021 to 2026 at a cost of $415,000,000.

 

 

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County Courthouse – Norristown

 

 

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Photos taken 2017