Indiana County Courthouse Histories
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Crawford County
Named for: Colonel William Crawford - Surveyor and friend of George Washington OR William H. Crawford - U.S. Treasurer
Organized: 1818
County Seat: Mount Sterling, 1818-1822 (No Water)
Fredonia, 1822-1843
Leavenworth, 1843-1896
English, 1896-2003
New English, 2003-
Number of Courthouses: 6
Number | Years | Type | Detail |
---|---|---|---|
1 | 1818-1822, Mount Sterling | Frame | William Hart & David Miller $195.50 |
2 | 1822-1843, Fredonia | Brick | Allen D. Thom 39x33 - two stories; probably free to county |
3 | 1843-1894, Leavenworth | Brick | Slightly larger than Fredonia's; paid by Leavenworth |
4 | 1895-1958, English | Castle | Arch: Oliver W. Marble $48,000 |
5 | 1959-2003, English | Modern | Arch: Lester Rauth Builder: Meriwether and Bauman $105,851 Dedicated 10/31/1959 |
6 | 2003-Present, New English | Modern | Judicial Complex |
The original county seat of Mount Sterling did not have a good water supply therefore forcing the first county seat relocation.
A modern postcard of the Fredonia Courthouse exists, but it is probably not the actual courthouse. The actual courthouse was a two-story structure.
Leavenworth was named for Zebulan Leavenworth.
On 4/25/1894, while the county seat move was tied up in court, a procession of 96 wagons went to Leavenworth to obtain the county records, by force if necessary. They met no resistance, although the book 'Courthouse Wars' claims there was a death in the feud.
The 1895 courthouse had pine floors and no water, plumbing, or central heating. It was condemned in 1939.
Crawford County has no significant cities or towns. The town of English has been subject to continual flooding so it is being slowly abandoned and moved to higher ground about a mile away to 'New' English. Primary government functions have been relocated.