Tag: courthouses

Johnson County Courthouse – Paintsville, Ky.

Johnson County Courthouse – Paintsville, Ky.

Okay, folks. I was completely, totally lost on this one. I headed into downtown Paintsville and searched desperately for a courthouse for half an hour. No such luck. Ultimately, I did find the new judicial center (pictured above). The judicial center is nice and all, but is built right out on the bypass next to a jail. So as much as I was impressed by the Greek Revival structure, I was a little taken aback by the location.

I’ve always wondered about the name “Paintsville.” Turns out that it is pretty simple. The town draws its name from a nearby creek and early settlers found Indian drawings painted on the tree trunks along the banks of the creek.

Magoffin County Courthouse – Salyersville, Ky.

Magoffin County Courthouse – Salyersville, KY
Salyersville is an interesting place. It’s a nice little mountain town, but I was surprised to discover that this was the courthouse. It is apparently one of many courthouses to have been located on this site over the years. The second courthouse built here, which was apparently of Victorian style and was quite unique, burned down. This is either the third or the fourth courthouse, but it is dwarfed by the new judicial center in town. 
Like most of the area, Magoffin County is a coal county. Interestingly, most native Magoffin County folks can probably trace their ancestors back to South Carolina, as the area was first settled in 1794 by a small group of settlers from South Carolina that built a community around the Licking River around what is now Salyersville.

Kentucky120 Progress map

Ed. note: For those that enjoy these maps or are curious as to how the Kentucky120 and NoDestination efforts are progressing, check out the new map page and spreadsheet.

Up to 56 counties now. Only 4 more and I’m halfway there. There are a couple of easy ones that for some bizarre reason I haven’t hit yet (Jefferson and Bullitt for example), but after those, it’s definitely going to get more difficult.

Knott County Courthouse – Hindman, Ky.

I’ve noted before that my wife is from Eastern Kentucky, and one thing that I’ve come to understand about this area of the state is how unbelievably difficult it can be to get around. My wife tells me about snow and ice keeping kids out of school for a month, and I never really understood how that could be possible until I made this trip to Hindman. There is no legitimate reason why anyone would ever stumble upon Hindman. You really have to intend to end up there. Roads meander and wind, and I couldn’t believe that I was only one county over from where I’ve previously been. Interestingly, Knott County is the only county in Kentucky that doesn’t either border or contain a portion of a river. This courthouse, which is actually the old courthouse now, was built by the WPA in 1935-36. Apparently a really interesting courthouse with a unique arched front preceded it but burned down.

This is the new Knott County judicial center, which sits directly across the street from the old courthouse. It looks completely out of place in the downtown area. It dwarfs everything else in Hindman.

Pulaski County Courthouse – Somerset, Ky.

Pulaski County Courthouse, Somerset, Ky.

Pulaski County is named for Casimir Pulaski, a Polish soldier who saved George Washington’s life during the American Revolution. He is only one of seven people to have been honorarily given U.S. Citizenship. The Commonwealth of Kentucky has actually recognized a Casimir Pulaski day since the 1940s to honor the heritage of Polish Americans.

This judicial center is enormous. For the life of me, I can’t understand why Pulaski County needs a three story courthouse with two circuit courtrooms.
Anyway, I took this photo last week after the ice storm, and I nearly killed myself trying to get a better shot. The courthouse square is completely paved, and I made the mistaken attempt to walk on it. This shot was a compromise.

Rowan County Courthouse – Morehead, Ky.

Old Rowan County Courthouse, Morehead, Ky.

This one’s just kinda sad. What you see above is the beautiful former Rowan County Courthouse. It currently houses the Rowan County Arts Center. This building was built between 1896 and 1899. It is the only remaining 19th Century building left standing on Main Street in Morehead. It is the third courthouse to sit on this site.

What is shown above is the current Rowan County Courthouse, which looks like a gymnasium. When I first came to Rowan County for court, I couldn’t believe that this was the courthouse, and had to double-check before going in. There are no windows in the courtroom, and it feels like you’re going into a crypt when you enter. I wonder why they didn’t get a spiffy new judicial center?

Spencer County Courthouse – Taylorsville, Ky.

Spencer County Courthouse, Taylorsville, Ky.

I apologize for the delay on this post. I took this photo back in July of this year, but was never quite able to get things posted. Now that I’m on what will have to pass for a vacation I can get these things posted. Spencer County is a unique place. It’s between Lexington and Louisville, but for some reason I’ve never really visited.

Taylorsville is its county seat, and was founded on 60 acres of land given by Richard Taylor, who was President Zachary Taylor’s father. Richard Taylor operated a grist mill nearby. Taylorsville is probably best known for Taylorsville Lake, the man-made lake that serves as a recreational area. Dam construction began in 1974 and flooding began in 1983. The lake is pretty murky, due to the fact that a great deal of standing timber was still standing when the lake was flooded.

Knox County Courthouse – Barbourville, Ky.


I like Barbourville. Before I had visited this place, my only knowledge of Barbourville came from a boss that I had at the Liquor Barn when I was in college. He was a native, and one of the nicest guys I’ve ever met. So I guess I was a little biased. The courthouse is pretty bad. Apparently at one point there was an Italianate courthouse here before this one, and I wish I could see how that one fit it with the downtown area. Regardless of the boring courthouse, the courthouse square is really interesting. It’s set up much like any other courthouse square, but you can tell that there have been some public projects to spruce up the area and make it a place people want to be.

Bell County Courthouse – Pineville, Ky.


Pineville is one of those great places in Kentucky that you really have to plan to get to. No one ever “stumbles into” Pineville. Located near the Cumberland Gap, it was probably one of the original settlements in what was to become Kentucky. Its a pretty little town, surrounded by the mountains, but man is it a haul to get there. This courthouse is the fourth located in Pineville. Interestingly enough, according to the Kentucky Almanac, the first courthouse was REFUSED BY THE COURT in 1869 because of poor construction. I can only imagine.

Frankly, I am shocked that Peter didn’t report on this memorial when he made his trip to Pineville, instead choosing to focus on religious zealots in the streets. Pictured above is King, the German Shepherd from Bell County that serves as the memorial to all fallen K-9 officers and their handlers in Kentucky.

Whitley County Courthouse – Williamsburg, Ky.


Driving into Williamsburg, you see all of these towers and cupolas peeking up above the trees. I immediately started thinking about how awesome this courthouse was going to look. Unfortunately, all of these towers are a part Cumberland College, and the courthouse square was relatively boring and deserted on this Saturday morning. Even Cumberland College’s football field has cupolas on the press box.
The courthouse pictured above is the fourth to sit on this site. Interestingly, the original name of Williamsburg was actually “Whitley Courthouse.” Come on pioneers…you guys could do better than that.
As I believe I’ve noted before, the largest city in Whitley County is actually Corbin, which in fact sits in three counties and is the county seat of none of them…which is kind of insane when you think about it. What would have been so devastating about one big county with Corbin in the middle?