The Johnson County Courthouse in Buffalo, Wyoming was built in 1884. The Italianate style building adjoins the former Johnson County Library, which is also listed on the National Register of Historic Places.ConstructionOn April 19, 1881, Wyoming Territorial governor John Wesley Hoyt appointed two Johnson County residents as the first county commissioners of Johnson County. They organized the first county election on April 27, 1881. On June 27, 1881, the newly elected commissioners met, and purchased the Lone Star Dance Hall and stables to be used as offices for the county.By November 1883, it was apparent that the former dance hall was not a secure place for the county's records, and that the condition of the building was such that repairs would not be practical. The commissioners felt that Johnson County needed a new facility for its records, courtrooms, and prisoners. The commissioners requested bids on April 30, 1884, and reviewed the bids on June 8, 1884. The low bid of $81,650 from Edward and James Curran was accepted, and they were awarded the contract.ArchitectureThe Johnson County Courthouse is a good example of the Italianate style of architecture. The stilted arch window openings with pronounced keystones and the consoles on cornices are characteristics of this style. Bricks for the courthouse were made from clay soil mined from a location just south of the Buffalo City Park. Kilns at the foot of the Big Horn Mountains provided the lime for the mortar.
