Williams

Formed April 1, 1820 (70^th county)

Williams County (37,106), Bryan (8,726)

The outstanding red brick and stone structure, built in 1891, is on the square surrounded by High, Main, Butler, and Lynn streets.  United States Highway 127 is Main Street in the town.  Edward O. Fallis & Company are the architects for this French Baroque and Romanesque courthouse.  The building features a tower and working clock.  The grounds have a gazebo, fountain, and veteran memorials.  There was also an 1852 version earlier in Bryan, the only county seat.  The county was established on April 1, 1820 from Darke County as the 70^th county.  It is named for American Revolutionary War hero David Williams.  Bryan is named for State Legislator John B. Bryan. 

Williams County government consists of an auditor, a sheriff, an attorney, and a coroner (executive).  It has 3 Commissioners (legislative.)  Three Common Pleas Court Judges and a court clerk serve Williams County (judicial.)  Williams County is in the northwest corner of the state on the border with both Indiana and Michigan.  Toledo, Ohio is east and Columbus, Ohio is southeast of the county.  The county center is 8.3 miles North-Northwest of Bryan nearer Montpelier.  The county is surrounded clockwise by Michigan and Fulton, Henry, and Defiance counties and Indiana. 

The area of the county is 421.7 square miles.  It is 53 out of 88 in the state.  It ranks 66 out of 88 in population in the state.  It has a density of 88.0 persons per square mile making it 63 out of 88 in the state.  Williams County has 53.8% of its population in its incorporated areas.  Interstate Highways 80/90 cross east to west in the county from Fulton County to Indiana.  United States Highway 6 goes east to west from Henry County to Indiana.  United States Highway 20 parallels Interstate Highway 80 from Fulton County to Indiana.  United States Highway 20 Alternate enters from Fulton County, east, and terminates.  United States Highway 127 comes from Fulton County, northeast, and goes to Defiance County, south.  The county is a rectangle with an added foot pointing east from the southeast corner.  Bryan is located in the southern quarter of the county.  Bryan is the county seat and the largest city.  It is 23.5% of the county population.