This is actually the fifth courthouse of Johnson County
(not counting the courts that were held in town member's homes).
The first courthouse was a log cabin. The two following it
were destroyed by fire. The fourth was a temporary structure.
Finally, County Commissioners made plans for the current-day
courthouse and resolved to erect it on March 26, 1879. Four months
later, they adopted the plans of architect George W. Buenting.
The contract to erect the courthouse was awarded on September
8, 1879, to Farman & Pierce for approximately $100,000.00.
The construction of the courthouse took a little more than
two years. On August 31, 1882, county officers moved into the
new building.
In 1982 an annex was built. In 1983 and 1984 the courthouse
itself was rennovated.
We doubt that any of the previous courthouses were grander
than this one.
The building is on the National Register of Historic Places
