Williamson County Courthouse (Illinois)
The Williamson County Courthouse is a government building in Marion, the county seat of Williamson County, Illinois, United States. Built in 1971, it is the fourth courthouse in Marion's history.
Land was registered in today's Williamson County as early as 1814,[1]: 442 but the county itself was formed only in 1839 from the southern half of Franklin County. No county seat was named by the organic act; instead, the original officials were responsible to ascertain a location for the seat,[1]: 450 and they chose the location of Marion following a donation by local landowners.[1]: 452 The city first incorporated in 1851.[1]: 507
Williamson County's first public buildings, a clerk's office and jail, were built on Marion's public square in 1840. Two years passed before the completion of the first courthouse, a square brick structure that stood until 1859, following the construction of a larger replacement.
References
- ^ a b c d e f g History of Gallatin, Saline, Hamilton, Franklin, and Williamson counties, Illinois: from the earliest time to the present, together with sundry and interesting biographical sketches, notes, reminiscences, etc., etc. Chicago: Goodspeed, 1887.
- ^ Weiser, Dennis. Illinois courthouses: an illustrated history. Virginia Beach: Donning, 2009, 154.