Indiana County Courthouse Histories
- Results
Knox County
Named for: General Henry Knox - Revolutionary War, Secretary of War
Organized: 1790
County Seat: Vincennes
Number of Courthouses: 3
| Number | Years | Type | Detail |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1813-1831 | Brick | Builder: William Lindsay. Supt. Robert Bunting. $3156 .41. Contracted 1810, Occupied 7/30/1813. |
| 2 | 1831-1878 | Brick | Builder: John Moore. 45x65 $3971.16 |
| 3 | 1876-Present | Castle | Arch: Edwin May & Adolf Sheerer. 78x120 $362,000 Builder: James K. Frick, Contract 3/13/1872 Cornerstone 6/24/1873. There also exists a record of a Frank L. Tarman involved with design or construction. |
Vincennes is the oldest significant town in Indiana. It was first established by French fur traders as a stop between Detroit and New Orleans, and dates from somewhere between 1680 and 1720 although there was no significant population until about 1745.
Vincennes was the original capitol of the Indiana Territorial when the territory included all of the Northwest Territory that is now Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin, and the Eastern half of Minnesota from 1800 to 1809. The Indiana Territory also included the western half of Michigan 1800-1805 and the eastern half of Michigan 1803-1805 until the Michigan Territory was formed in 1805. For a short time the Louisiana Purchase territory was attached to the Indiana Territory for administrative purposes.
Although Knox County was formed in 1790, there was little governmental action there until the Indiana Territory was formed in 1800 with Vincennes as the capitol.
The Territorial Capitol building, that still stands, was not owned by the government, but was actually a rented saloon. It was one of several buildings used by the Territorial Legislature and was never the Governor's office. That particular building was only used in 1811. (Per Richard Day of the DNR).
There was no Courthouse in Vincennes from 1790 until 1813. All Three Courthouses appear to have been in different locations.
A Fire January 14, 1814 destroyed all county records, but the fire was not in the courthouse.
The Soldiers and Sailors Monument was dedicated in 1914. The courthouse lawn also includes a Knox Co. Memorial Park and a Knox County Gold Star Honor Roll.