Kankakee County Courthouse facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Kankakee County Courthouse
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 Location in Illinois
Location in the United States
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| Location | 450 E. Court St., Kankakee, Illinois) |
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| Area | 2.9 acres (1.2 ha) |
| Built by | W. F. Stilwell |
| Architect | Zachary Taylor Davis |
| Architectural style | Beaux Arts, Renaissance Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 07000115 |
| Added to NRHP | March 7, 2007 |
The Kankakee County Courthouse is a very important building in Kankakee, Illinois. It stands in Courthouse Square and has been the home of the Kankakee County government since 1912. This impressive building is the third courthouse the county has used. It took three years to build and shows off a beautiful style called Beaux-Arts architecture.
Contents
A Look at the Courthouse History
The Land's Early Story
The area where the Kankakee County Courthouse now stands was once used by the Potawatomi people. They used it as a special meeting place. European settlers began to arrive in 1832 after a treaty was signed.
In 1851, the Illinois Central Railroad decided to build a train station here. A group called the Associates Land Company bought land around the station. They planned out the town and called it Kankakee Depot.
Choosing a County Seat
When Kankakee County was created in 1853, two towns wanted to be the "county seat." The county seat is the main town where the county government is located. Kankakee Depot competed with Momence.
The Associates Land Company helped Kankakee Depot win. They offered to give a large piece of land and $5,000 to build a courthouse. This offer convinced the voters to choose Kankakee Depot as the county seat.
The First Two Courthouses
The first Kankakee County Courthouse was built soon after. This three-story building was more than just a government office. It became a busy social spot and a place for trading goods.
A famous politician named Stephen A. Douglas even gave a speech in front of it in 1858. Sadly, on October 5, 1872, the courthouse was destroyed by a fire.
The stone walls that survived the fire were cleaned and used again for the second courthouse. This new building was very similar to the first one. It opened in October 1873.
Building the Current Courthouse
By the early 1900s, Kankakee County had grown a lot. The courthouse was becoming too small for all the county's needs. In November 1908, people voted to build a brand new courthouse. This is the building we see today.
Zachary Taylor Davis was chosen as the architect to design the building. A builder named W. F. Stilwell constructed it for $187,000. Work began on October 2, 1909, and the courthouse was finished in July 1912.
In the 1930s, about 200 farmers gathered at the courthouse. They were asking for changes to property tax laws. By 1950, the county's population had grown even more, thanks to new industries.
The Kankakee County Courthouse has been in use since it opened in 1912. On March 7, 2007, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This means it's recognized as an important historical site.
