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Photograph of Johnson County Courthouse
Photograph by Nja1985, retouched by Kbh3rd, CC BY-SA 3.0. Via Wikimedia Commons.

Johnson County Courthouse

Built in 1898 (Romanesque Revival architecture). Listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1994.

From the record

“Johnson County Courthouse is a historic courthouse located at Warrensburg, Johnson County, Missouri. It was built between 1896 and 1898, and is a 2 1/2-story, Romanesque Revival style sandstone building.”

Wikipedia article Johnson County Courthouse (Courthouse Square, Warrensburg, Missouri), CC BY-SA 4.0.

One of 22 National Register listings published here for Johnson County · listed in 1994 · category: Building · built in 1898, Romanesque Revival architecture, by George E. McDonald.

Sources: the Wikipedia article · the case file at the National Archives · the National Register database, National Park Service · the Wikipedia article

The listing

  • What is counted as historic. The nomination lists 1 building as contributing to the listing.
  • Address. Courthouse Sq., Warrensburg, 64093
  • When was it listed? April 1994
  • Category. building
  • Township. Warrensburg township
  • When was it built? 1898
  • Architectural style. Romanesque Revival architecture
  • Architect. George E. McDonald
  • National Register reference number. 94000288 - the number the National Park Service assigned this property when it was listed, and the key its nomination file is catalogued under at the National Archives.

The ground it stands on

5,328 words

The chapter on Warrensburg Township in The History of Johnson County, Missouri : Including a Reliable History of the Townships, Cities, and Towns, Together with a Map of the County; a Condensed History of Missouri; the State Constitution; an Abstract of the Most Important Laws; the Physical Features of the County; the Early Settlers and Pioneers; the Political and War History; the Religious and Educational History...statistics and Miscellaneous Matters, Etc., Etc, published 1881 names Warrensburg. This is what it says, exactly as the scans read.

Warrensburg township is so intimately connected with the city of the same name, which stands near its center, that the history of the former is blended with that of the latter, and much equally applicable to the town¬ ship will also apply to Warrensburg City. The township derived its name and geographical position from the county seat, and is one of the oldest in the county, Jackson, Jefferson, Madison and Washington being only eighteen months older.

Passage source: The History of Johnson County, Missouri : Including a Reliable History of the Townships, Cities, and Towns, Together with a Map of the County; a Condensed History of Missouri; the State Constitution; an Abstract of the Most Important Laws; the Physical Features of the County; the Early Settlers and Pioneers; the Political and War History; the Religious and Educational History...statistics and Miscellaneous Matters, Etc., Etc, published 1881.

Warrensburg township, as at present constituted, is bounded on the north by Hazel Hill and Simpson townships, on the east by Washington, on the south by Post Oak and Chilhowee townships, and on the west by Center View township. It is more centrally located than any other town¬ ship except Center View. It is exactly midway in the county, north and south, but a little east of the geographical center. Technically defined its limits are as follows; beginning at the northeast corner of section 4, township 46, range 26; thence south to the southwest corner of section 16, township 45, range 26; thence east to the southeast corner of section 16, township 45, range 25 ; thence north to the place of beginning. Its length north and south, is nine miles, width east and west, seven miles, and con¬ tains 63 square miles, or 40,320 acres.

Passage source: The History of Johnson County, Missouri : Including a Reliable History of the Townships, Cities, and Towns, Together with a Map of the County; a Condensed History of Missouri; the State Constitution; an Abstract of the Most Important Laws; the Physical Features of the County; the Early Settlers and Pioneers; the Political and War History; the Religious and Educational History...statistics and Miscellaneous Matters, Etc., Etc, published 1881.

Machine-read from a century-old scan, so expect the errors a machine makes: misspelled names, dropped words, stray characters.

Read the whole chapter on Warrensburg Township - 5,328 words on its settlement, mills, schools and churches.

Fires near this property

58 since 2003

Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The federal wildfire occurrence database lists 58 fires within 5 miles of Johnson County Courthouse between 2003 and 2020, burning about 137 acres in total. 4 started naturally. 1 was recorded as arson. Distance is straight-line from the map coordinates, so a fire counted here may appear on a neighbouring settlement's page as well.

Reported cause Fires
Missing data/not specified/undetermined31
Debris and open burning14
Natural4
Recreation and ceremony3
Equipment and vehicle use3
Other causes2
Arson/incendiarism1

The most recent of them, most recent first, with the day each was reported and the service that recorded it.

DateCause SizeReported by Name on the report
9 September 2003Equipment and vehicle use1.0 acresMissouri State Fire Marshal's Officenot named
5 September 2003Missing data/not specified/undeterminedunder an acreMissouri State Fire Marshal's Officenot named
5 September 2003Missing data/not specified/undeterminedunder an acreMissouri State Fire Marshal's Officenot named
23 September 2018Missing data/not specified/undeterminedunder an acreMissouri Department of Conservation177674-05130-09232018-1600
19 September 2003Missing data/not specified/undeterminedunder an acreMissouri State Fire Marshal's Officenot named
3 August 2003Recreation and ceremony1.0 acresMissouri State Fire Marshal's Officenot named
26 August 2003Missing data/not specified/undeterminedunder an acreMissouri State Fire Marshal's Officenot named
26 August 2003Debris and open burningunder an acreMissouri State Fire Marshal's Officenot named

Every fire recorded in Johnson County

Mines and quarries near this property

9 within 5 miles

Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The federal mineral resources record lists 9 workings within 5 miles of Johnson County Courthouse: 9 past producers. None of them still produces. What was taken out: Stone, Crushed/Broken. Distance is straight-line from the map coordinates, so a quarry counted here may appear on a neighbouring settlement's page as well.

Where SiteCommodity StatusRecorded
Bruce QuarryStone, Crushed/BrokenPast Producer
Marr Quarry & MillStone, Crushed/BrokenPast Producer
Pickel QuarryStone, Crushed/BrokenPast Producer
Unknown - Ls.Stone, Crushed/BrokenPast Producer
Unknown - Ls.Stone, Crushed/BrokenPast Producer
Unknown - Ls.Stone, Crushed/BrokenPast Producer
Unknown - Ls.Stone, Crushed/BrokenPast Producer
Unknown - Ls.Stone, Crushed/BrokenPast Producer
Unknown - Ss.Stone, Crushed/BrokenPast Producer

Every working recorded in Johnson County

Storms near this property

60 of 137 shown

Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The National Weather Service names Warrensburg, the town this property stands in, in 137 storm reports between 1993 and 2025: 71 hail, 54 thunderstorm wind, 7 flash flood, 4 tornado. No death or injury is recorded in these reports. Each account below is quoted exactly as the forecast office filed it, from the NOAA Storm Events Database, and each date opens the federal record of that event.

WhenEvent Place namedHarm What the report says
April 2001Tornado (F1)Warrensburg$2,000,000A tornado moved across the north side of Warrensburg, damaging approximately 100 homes andbusinesses. No injuries or deaths were reported. The tornado was on the ground for 10 minutes, movingto the east. The path width ranged between 50 and 75 yards, and rear flank downdraft winds to the southof the tornado, caused minor damage to structures in downtown Warrensburg.
May 2003Tornado (F1)Warrensburg$25,000Tornado touchdown was observed one half mile northwest of the intersection of SE 401st Road and SE 300th Road, or near the city landfill. Damage of F1 intensity was noted at this location to a private business. The tornado continued northeast to near Whiteman Air Force Base before dissipating 1 mile northeast of the base. Damage along the path was rated F0 throughout this area, along the rest of the path.
July 2000LightningWarrensburg$16,000A lightning strike killed 8 cattle at the Central Missouri State University Agricultural Research Farm.
April 2001Thunderstorm WindWarrensburg$10,000Law enforcement reported 3/4 inch hail and power lines down.
March 2006HailWarrensburg$10,000no account filed
June 2013Thunderstorm WindWarrensburg$5,000Thunderstorm wind gusts were estimated up to 70 mph, with numerous power poles down in Warrensburg.
August 2008Thunderstorm WindWarrensburg$5,000Numerous trees and power lines were reported down around Warrensburg.
March 2006Thunderstorm WindWarrensburg$5,000Several highway signs down.
October 2004Tornado (F0)Warrensburg$5,000Tornado touchdown reported near 251 and BB Highway...2 southwest of Warrensburg. Barn partially destroyed. Tornado dissipated just south of Warrensburg.
October 2002Thunderstorm WindWarrensburg$5,000Roof and gutter damage to mobile homes.
June 1995Thunderstorm WindWarrensburg$5,000Severe thunderstorms moved through the area producing damaging winds. Trees were downed along Route H east of Fayetteville, and some large limbs were knocked down in Warrensburg. Some of these limbs landed on a mobile home, causing minor damage.
August 2004HailWarrensburg$5,000no account filed
June 2001Thunderstorm WindWarrensburg$5,000no account filed
June 1995Thunderstorm WindWarrensburg$4,000Several power lines were downed by severe thunderstorms in the Warrensburg area.
May 2011Thunderstorm WindWarrensburg$2,000The 100 block of Main Street, had two, three feet in diameter trees, blown down. The trees knocked down power lines.
June 2009Thunderstorm WindWarrensburg$2,000Trees and power lines were reported down.
September 2013Thunderstorm WindWarrensburg$1,000Trees and a power pole were reported blown down in town. Thunderstorm wind gusts were estimated up to 60 mph.
June 2008Thunderstorm WindWarrensburg$1,000Tree and power pole were down due to high winds.
October 2004Thunderstorm WindWarrensburg$1,000Power lines and 10 inch diameter trees downed.
October 2004Thunderstorm WindWarrensburg$1,000Tractor trailer blown over on U.S. Highway 50 between Warrensburg and Knob Noster.
September 2001Thunderstorm WindWarrensburg$1,000Numerous trees reported down across town.
August 2004HailWarrensburg$1,000no account filed
May 2002Thunderstorm WindWarrensburg$1,000no account filed
March 2025Thunderstorm WindWarrensburg-Propane station canopy blown down.
September 2025Thunderstorm WindWarrensburg-Social media report of a downed tree damaging three vehicles at the University of Central Missouri.
September 2025Thunderstorm WindWarrensburg-Utility company reports multiple trees and wires down north of Warrensburg.
September 2025Thunderstorm WindWarrensburg-Powerline down in Warrensburg.
September 2025Thunderstorm WindWarrensburg-Large tree and powerline down just NW of Warrensburg.
March 2024HailWarrensburg-Quarter sized hail was reported on the campus of the University of Central Missouri in Warrensburg.
March 2021HailWarrensburg-This report came from MPing.
June 2021Thunderstorm WindWarrensburg-NWS Employee near Warrensburg reported 60 mph wind.
August 2020Thunderstorm WindWarrensburg-A large tree limb was blown down onto a house.
August 2020Thunderstorm WindWarrensburg-A large tree was blown down along Highway 13, south of Hale Lake Road.
September 2020Thunderstorm WindWarrensburg-Public reported 60 mph winds.
June 2020Thunderstorm WindWarrensburg-Storm spotter in Warrensburg reported 67 mph wind with a stationary anemometer mounted to the vehicle.
June 2020Thunderstorm WindWarrensburg-A 75 foot tall oak tree snapped about 6 feet off the ground and fell into other nearby trees.
June 2019Thunderstorm WindWarrensburg-Storm chaser measured 73 mph wind.
August 2019Thunderstorm WindWarrensburg-Many large trees were down in Warrensburg.
September 2019Flash FloodWarrensburg-Trained spotter reported several roads in and around University of Central Missouri with several inches of running water.
June 2018Thunderstorm WindWarrensburg-Several large trees were uprooted and down north of Warrensburg.
June 2018Thunderstorm WindWarrensburg-Trees and branches were down across portions of Warrensburg, along with power outages.
June 2018Thunderstorm WindWarrensburg-This wind was measured at the Johnson County Emergency Management office in Warrensburg.
July 2018Thunderstorm WindWarrensburg-There were multiple reports of several trees and tree branches down across Warrensburg.
May 2017Thunderstorm WindWarrensburg-Tree damage was reported on the University of Central Missouri campus.
February 2017HailWarrensburg-This report was received via social media.
July 2016Thunderstorm WindWarrensburg-Trees were down on the east side of town and power outages were reported in Warrensburg.
July 2016Thunderstorm WindWarrensburg-Multiple trees of unknown diameter or condition were down. This report was received via social media.
May 2015Thunderstorm WindWarrensburg-Power lines were blown down near 7th Street Terrace and Vest.
July 2015Flash FloodWarrensburg-Division Rd west of Highway 13 flooded.
April 2014Flash FloodWarrensburg-Several roads were flooded.
April 2014Flash FloodWarrensburg-Several roads were barricaded and several homes received minor flooding.
April 2014Thunderstorm WindWarrensburg-Several trees were blown down throughout Warrensburg.
August 2011Thunderstorm WindWarrensburg-Six inch diameter tree branches were snapped off at Martin Warren Elementary School. Thunderstorm wind gusts were estimated up to 60 mph.
August 2011Thunderstorm WindWarrensburg-Thunderstorm wind gusts were estimated up to 60 mph. Tree branches up to 3 inches in diameter were snapped off.
August 2011Thunderstorm WindWarrensburg-An eighteen to twenty inch in diameter tree was blown down. Thunderstorm wind gusts were estimated up to 60 mph.
May 2010Flash FloodWarrensburg-Road was closed near SW Road 200 and Road 371, due to flash flooding.
May 2010Flash FloodWarrensburg-Numrous roads closed in Warrensburg, due to flash flooding.
June 2010Thunderstorm WindWarrensburg-Thunderstorm winds estimated at 60 mph, caused a large tree to fall down on a road.
July 2009Thunderstorm WindWarrensburg-Full trees were reported snapped off, in downtown Warrensburg.
September 2005Thunderstorm WindWarrensburg-Ten inch diameter tree toppled.

Every storm recorded in Johnson County

Map coverage status

No historic map-sheet match is published for this property yet. That does not mean no map exists. This record needs a coordinate-quality review before it can be joined to a sheet boundary. Browse the county's mapped places while that work is pending.

Listed places nearby

6 within 8 miles

Other National Register properties close enough to walk or drive between, ordered by distance from this one. Both positions come from the same geocoding pass that matched these properties to their map sheets.

Photograph PropertyDistance Listed
Holden and Pine Streets Commercial Historic Districtunder 500 feet2017
Masonic Templeunder 500 feet1998
Magnolia Mills0.2 miles1996
Herbert A. and Bettie E. Cress House0.2 miles1995
Jones Brothers Mule Barn0.2 miles2011
Lewis and Sophie Griebel House0.2 miles2012

Sources for this property

National Archives recordThe nomination case file for reference 94000288 in Record Group 79.
Wikipedia articleCommunity-written account of this property, licensed CC BY-SA.
Johnson CountyAll 22 listed properties in this county.

Provenance

  • Listing record. National Park Service National Register of Historic Places, listed-properties dataset, current to 2026-05-22.
  • Map join. Address geocoded through the United States Census geocoder, then tested against the published boundary of every sheet in the USGS Historical Topographic Map Collection.
  • How this page is made. Listing fields come from federal records; map-sheet coverage is a labelled coordinate-to-boundary calculation, not a source-field claim.
  • Wildfire. Short, Karen C. 2022. Spatial wildfire occurrence data for the United States, 1992-2020 [FPA_FOD_20221014]. 6th Edition. Fort Collins, CO: Forest Service Research Data Archive. https://doi.org/10.2737/RDS-2013-0009.6 Collected with United States Government funding and usable without additional permissions or fees.
  • Mines and quarries. USGS Mineral Resources Data System (MRDS) https://mrdata.usgs.gov/mrds/ A work of the United States government, no copyright under 17 U.S.C. 105.
  • Storms. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/stormevents/ A work of the United States government, no copyright under 17 U.S.C. 105. Narratives are quoted verbatim from the National Weather Service report and are not edited or summarised.