Broome County Courthouse

{{Use American English|date=July 2025}} {{Use mdy dates|date=February 2025}} {{Infobox NRHP | name = Broome County Courthouse | nrhp_type = | image = Broome County Courthouse Dec 08.jpg | caption = Broome County Courthouse, December 2008 | location = Court St., Binghamton, New York | coordinates = {{coord|42|5|53|N|75|54|42|W|region:US_type:landmark|display=inline,title}} | locmapin = New York#USA | mapframe = yes | mapframe-marker = building | mapframe-zoom = 12 |mapframe-caption = Interactive map showing the location of Brooke County Courthouse | built = 1897 | architect = Perry, Isaac G.; Leonard, Miles | architecture = Classical Revival | added = May 22, 1973 | area = {{convert|4.5|acre}} | refnum = 73001164<ref name="nris">{{NRISref|2009a}}</ref> }}

'''Broome County Courthouse''' is a historic courthouse located at Binghamton in Broome County, New York. It is a massive {{frac|2|1|2}}-story structure, built on a raised foundation, in the form of a Latin Cross and topped with an elegant copper dome. Originally constructed in 1897–1898 in a "T" shape, the south wing was added in 1916–1917 to form the cross. It was designed by noted New York State architect Isaac G. Perry.<ref name=nrhpdoc>{{cite report|type=none|url=https://catalog.archives.gov/id/75316549 |title=National Register of Historic Places Registration: New York SP Broome County Courthouse|publisher=National Archives and Records Administration |author= Steven S. Levy|date= April 1973| access-date=October 25, 2025 }} ({{NationalArchivesNote}})</ref>

== History ==

Prior to the formation of Broome County, the land had been part of Tioga County since its formation in 1791, with its initial court sessions held in Newtown (present-day Elmira). As the county had settlements in both its eastern and western portions, a second county judicial district was established in 1793 in the present-day town of Dickinson, with proceedings held at the residence of prominent Binghamton land agent Joshua Whitney.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Gay |first1=W. B. |title=Historical Gazetteer of Tioga County, New York, 1785–1888 |publisher=W. B. Gay & Co. |location=Syracuse, New York |url=https://www.tcpl.org/sites/default/files/content/archive/a_Gazetteer_Tioga_Co_p01to76.pdf |access-date=6 July 2025}}</ref> In 1802, a formal courthouse was built at Chenango Point (present-day Binghamton) on the northwest corner of Court and Chenango Street. William Bingham, owner of the land that became the city, donated what is now Courthouse Square for use as a public square, and the courthouse was moved across the street.<ref>{{cite web |author1=City of Binghamton |title=City of Binghamton Local Waterfront Revitalization Program |url=https://dos.ny.gov/system/files/documents/2019/05/binghamtonclwrp.pdf |access-date=6 July 2025 |page=II - 1 |date=2005}}</ref>

When Broome County was split off from Tioga County in 1806, a new courthouse was erected at Courthouse Square, the first to be officially known as the Broome County Courthouse. Rapid growth in the county led to the construction of larger replacement courthouses in 1828 and 1856 (the first to be made of brick).<ref>{{cite book |last1=Child |first1=Hamilton |title=Gazetteer and Business Directory of Broome and Tioga Counties, New York 1872—1873 |date=1873 |publisher=The Journal Office |location=Syracuse, New York |url=https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/32/Gazetteer_and_business_directory_of_Broome_and_Tioga_counties%2C_N.Y._for_1872-3_%28IA_cu31924025959143%29.pdf |access-date=6 July 2025}}</ref> A fire on December 28, 1896 destroyed the courthouse, leading to the construction of the fourth Broome County Courthouse starting in 1897.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Smith |first1=Gerald R. |title=Courthouse met mysterious, fiery demise in 1896 |url=https://www.pressconnects.com/story/news/connections/history/2014/12/17/courthouse-met-mysterious-fiery-demise/20537557/ |access-date=6 July 2025 |work=Press & Sun-Bulletin |date=17 December 2014}}</ref>

The courthouse and its square were the inspiration for Johnny Cash's 1974 song "Ragged Old Flag".<ref>{{cite web |last1=Pitcher |first1=Glenn |title=Johnny Cash's 'Ragged Old Flag' Inspired by Trip to Binghamton [WATCH] |url=https://981thehawk.com/did-you-know-trip-to-binghamton-inspired-johnny-cashs-ragged-old-flag-watch/ |website=98.1 The Hawk |access-date=6 July 2025 |language=en |date=24 May 2024}}</ref> He wrote the song after walking around the square while in town for a concert.

It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1973.<ref name="nris"/> In addition to its individual listing, the courthouse is located within the boundaries of the Court Street Historic District.<ref name=nrhpdoc1>{{cite report|type=none|url=https://catalog.archives.gov/id/75316559 |title=National Register of Historic Places Registration: New York SP Court Street Historic District|publisher=National Archives and Records Administration |author= Mark L. Peckham|date= July 1984| access-date=October 25, 2025 }} ({{NationalArchivesNote}})</ref>

==References== {{reflist}}

==External links== {{commons category|Broome County Courthouse}} *{{HABS |survey=NY-5617 |id=ny0458 |title=Broome County Courthouse, Court Street, Binghamton, Broome County, NY |data=6}} *[http://www.gobroomecounty.com/ Broome County, New York]

Category:County courthouses in New York (state) Category:Buildings and structures in Binghamton, New York Category:History of Broome County, New York Category:National Register of Historic Places in Broome County, New York Category:Courthouses on the National Register of Historic Places in New York (state) Category:Historic American Buildings Survey in New York (state) Category:Government buildings completed in 1898 Category:Clock towers in New York (state)