St. Francois County Courthouse

Prominently situated in the center of Farmington, the St. Francois Courthouse is the fourth courthouse to serve as the seat of county government. Built in 1927, it is the centerpiece of the Courthouse Square Historic District, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The courthouse is also a fine example of Beaux Arts architecture. It features four nearly four identical elevations with projecting, two-story Corinthian colonnades and arcades on the upper section. Clocks are located above each arcade and there are floral medallions between the first and second-story windows. The interior has largely remained in tact.

Iron and lead deposits in the area attracted early settlers to the Farmington are in the late 18th century. The claims of settlers Rev. William Murphy and his sons Joseph and David, who were from Tennessee, eventually became Farmington (Rev. William passed away before moving permanently to Missouri). St. Francois County was established in 1821 and then in February 1822, David Murphy donated 52 acres establish Farmington as the county seat.

The town grew quickly around courthouse square and continued to develop in the coming decades. In 1853, a 42-mile long plank toll road was built between Farmington and St. Genevieve, which was a key river port on the Mississippi River. The road was the longest plank road built in U.S. history. However, it was only used for about a decade partly as a result of the construction of the St. Louis and Mountain Railroad which ran through the county. Farmington residents could reach the railroad from the nearby town of Delassus. Farmington was finally directly connected to major railroads in the early 1900s when an electric railway line was built to Delassus (it was later extended to the towns of Flat River and Esther.

The first courthouse was built in 1826. The second was a Greek Revival building erected in 1850. The third courthouse, which was designed in the Second Empire style, replaced the second one in 1886. In 1926, residents approved a $250,000 bond to build the present courthouse. Designed by architect Norman B. Howard, it was dedicated on October 13, 1927.

Sheals, Debbie. "Courthouse Square Historic District." National Park Service - National Register of Historic Places Nomination Form. June 9, 2004. https://catalog.archives.gov/OpaAPI/media/63820218/content/electronic-records/rg-079/NPS_MO/04000582.pdf.