Mercer

Formed February 14, 1845 (83^rd county)

Mercer County (3,537), Princeton (1,007)

The 1912 masonry and concrete Classical Revival structure is located on a square at Main, Chestnut, Water, and Broadway streets.  United States Highway 136 is four blocks to the north of the site.  The courthouse features a memorial plaque and marble internal walls.  Sanneman and Vantrump were the architects.  The county was created on February 14, 1845 from Native American Territory as the 83^rd county.  There were 1847 and 1858 courthouses previously.  Princeton has always been the county seat.  The county’s name is sourced from Revolutionary War hero Hugh Mercer.  The county seat is named for the Revolutionary War battle at Princeton, New Jersey.  Mercer County was the birthplace for 1 Missouri Governor, Arthur M. Hyde. 

Mercer County government consists of a sheriff and 3 Commissioners.  One Circuit Court Judge serves Mercer, Grundy, Harrison, and Putnam counties and One County Court Judge serves Mercer County.  The county is on the northern border with Iowa.  Kansas City, Missouri is southwest and Des Moines, Iowa is north of the county.  The county center is 10.9 miles Northeast of Princeton nearer Mercer.  The county is surrounded clockwise by Iowa and Putnam, Sullivan, Grundy, and Harrison counties. 

The area of the county is 454 square miles.  It is 95 out of 115 in the state.  It ranks 114 out of 115 in population in the state.  It has a density of 7.8 persons per square mile making it 111 out of 115 in the state.  Mercer County has 36.3% of its population in its incorporated areas.  United States Highway 65 goes north to south in the county from Iowa to Grundy County.  United States Highway 136 passes east to west from Putnam County to Harrison County.  The county is a rectangle.  Princeton is south and west of center in the county.  Princeton is the county seat and the largest city.  It is 28.5% of the county population.