Kitsap County | US Courthouses

Kitsap County is named for Chief Kitsap, who was the chief of the Suquamish Native American tribe.

Surrounding County Courthouses:

N – Jefferson County and Island County

E – Snohomish County and King County

S – Pierce County and Mason County

W – Jefferson County

Created: January 16, 1857

County Seat:

Port Madison 1857 – 1893

Port Orchard 1893 – present

County Courthouse – Port Orchard

Location: 614 Division Street / Cline Avenue

Built: 1934 – 1935

Style: Moderne

Architect: Unknown

Contractor: Unknown

Description: The building faces north and is a two story dark red colored brick and concrete structure. The building is located on landscaped grounds in the center of Port Orchard. The building has a concrete framed entrance with vertical divider in the centre and glass windows on either side. On the east side of the entrance is a stone section. The windows have green colored panels between the first and second stories. The building houses the County Superior Court, County Superior Court – Juvenile and County District Court. The building was expanded in 1947 to 1949 with the construction of a wing on the north side (2). The architect was Kenneth G Branch. In 1969 a second addition (3) was constructed in front of the original building (1) filling the U shaped space. In 1970, an addition (4) was constructed at the west side of the first addition (2). In 1971 an addition (5) was constructed along the east side of the original building (1). In 1974, an addition (6) was constructed on the south side of the first addition (2) and in 1978 an addition (7) was constructed on the west side and along the north side creating the current north front entrance.

County Administration Building – Port Orchard

Location: 619 Division Street / Cline Avenue

Built: 2005 – 2007

Style: Modern

Architect: Miller Hull Partnership

Contractor: Swinerton Builders

Description: The building faces south and is a two story dark buff colored concrete and glass structure. The building is located on landscaped grounds in the center of Port Orchard on the north side of the courthouse. The east side is one story and has a glass paneled entrance. The roof line is flat. The building includes the work of three artists, David Franklin – wood carvings, Frank Samuelson – paintings and William Robinson – stone sculpture.

History: The county was created in 1857 and Port Madison was selected as county seat. The first courthouse was built by George M May in 1869. In 1893, the county seat was moved to Port Orchard ( Sidney ) and the second courthouse was a two story structure designed by T A Kendall. The building was torn down when the “U” shaped courthouse was constructed in 1934 to 1935. The County Administration Building was constructed in 2005 to 2006.