The Clinton County Courthouse in Carlyle is a distinctively modern building. It was completed in 1999 and is the county's third courthouse, replacing the 1849-1883 brick structure that served the county for nearly 150 years. It was designed by Phillips Swager Associates and the Kuhlmann Design Group, with a modernist mix of red brick, concrete, and extensive glass, with a projecting central entrance and symmetrical east and west wings.
Clinton County was founded in 1824 and is named for DeWitt Clinton, the New York governor known for championing the Erie Canal. Carlyle has always been the county seat since the beginning.
The courthouse sits a block off US-50, not at the center of town, but still on spacious landscaped grounds near the Kaskaskia River. The building definitely looks contemporary compared to many Illinois county courthouses. The grounds include a veterans' memorial, which adds a thoughtful touch to the site.
[Review 1069 of 2026 - 247 in Illinois - 26248 overall] read more