History of Kane County's Courthouses and Jails
Kane County celebrates the anniversary of its incorporation on January 16. Established by the Illinois legislature in 1836, here's a look at the evolution of Kane County's courthouse and jails.
Kane County's first courthouse was located inside the Herrington Tavern and Inn on North State Street near the Fox River in Geneva. This location helped establish Geneva as the county seat, as it housed the only post office in the county at the time.
The first courthouse built by Kane County was completed in 1837 at a cost of $3,000. It stood at 4th and State Streets in Geneva. By 1844, it was replaced by a larger quarry stone building on the site of today's Geneva City Hall, located along Illinois Route 31. Rapid growth soon necessitated an even more substantial structure, leading to the construction of a limestone courthouse on Third Street in 1857. Designed by renowned Chicago architect John M. Van Osdel, this ornate building, crowned with a cupola, served the county until it was destroyed by fire in 1890.
The historic courthouse complex in Geneva was rebuilt in 1892 and included a jail as part of the design. The Kane County Board commissioned Chicago architects W. J. Edbrooke and Franklin P. Burnham to create the impressive courthouse and accompanying jail—a testament to the county’s commitment to functionality and architectural excellence.
At the time, the jail was described as “the best building, most complete and convenient jail building and sheriff’s residence in the state of Illinois,” according to an article in The Republican. The same article optimistically noted that any prisoners locked in the new jail would remain there as needed.
However, just six weeks later, three prisoners escaped. That week’s Republican article began, “It is rather a bad start for Kane County’s new jail to have an escape in the first month of its occupancy.”
By the 1970s, the 1892 facility was deemed "totally inadequate" and in "deplorable condition." Male prisoners were housed in a large common cell, or "tank," while female prisoners were kept in separate quarters. The building was ultimately demolished in 1975.
In June 1972, construction began on the Kane County Corrections Complex on Fabyan Parkway in Geneva, which served as the county jail and was later expanded several times. To meet increasing demands, the Kane County Board approved construction of the Kane County Judicial Center in 1991, located on Illinois Route 38 in St. Charles. Opening in October 1993, the Judicial Center consolidated all traffic, misdemeanor, DUI, divorce, family, juvenile, and criminal felony cases under one roof. It also housed offices for the State's Attorney, Public Defender, Court Services, and the Law Library.
In 2008, the Kane County Adult Corrections Center was completed on the Judicial Center campus, further enhancing the county’s ability to meet its judicial and correctional needs.
The historic four-story courthouse on Third Street remains one of the finest in Illinois and continues to serve as a courthouse for the Kane County 16th Judicial Circuit. Its square dome rises above the rotunda, surrounded by decorative ironwork railings on each floor. The arches on the fourth floor feature eleven murals depicting scenes from the county.
The former jail stood for nearly 80 years behind the courthouse on Third Street in Geneva. That site is now a parking lot and a courtyard honoring Kane County's children.
Today, the courthouse and the site of the former jail are recognized for their historic importance, with the courthouse standing as a landmark that reflects the county's rich legal and governmental heritage.
