{"id":3666,"date":"2026-08-04T20:12:18","date_gmt":"2026-08-05T00:12:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/patersonhistory.com\/?page_id=3666"},"modified":"2026-08-04T20:12:20","modified_gmt":"2026-08-05T00:12:20","slug":"passaic-county-courthouse","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/patersonhistory.com\/index.php\/passaic-county-courthouse\/","title":{"rendered":"Passaic County Courthouse"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\u00a0<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\"https:\/\/images.openai.com\/static-rsc-4\/DetSiI63KbhvJDl1QKnhzg7_rl7DQmB_NoA2BuAtyJURpm1EbscGfSk0bhTLI4QBv2ahXbVu3RbqXYEknDRj1QtaNi421qrsN-X3x5g70LI--eXOMjiKlFhiUy7yB-S7nWAJ-3VCmzaso643x9KLMl_WcEDlfitApeCcMrWaqe1-MnGzyD4TZXnAtuw8dq4z?purpose=fullsize\" \"https:\/\/images.openai.com\/static-rsc-4\/caeqOk7vNwpRNEo6GGCdMBIoOVo_t324GnkOKv6-4WluZoqhkCX4QN5tjxxvFJAMRZ3VCdR6NiDf_3fbCf_hSClstthkwJC82dFxNoKNpJUNYs6qcbokQS5eIjaeAK6by7ECIKAg_NMD5IIGTBYTO4ZafAInSAY72sMd1yi2qrGCYPmahrBurrksKPCrm9vL?purpose=fullsize\" \"https:\/\/images.openai.com\/static-rsc-4\/b9jZ2yrXbc_doEpALwq1KEhfMviDcNd5kXKfcfCTRuBWtaCtK71cQIhGfSaEzSAJaVlURk6JlreShiCgJ_RY72C8n8kSdOgb6FgHd0jbJF69wzPQ3WlDQSdki16xCUamvhpucvKGxna4aY9WPz7FJJMbVA17PnohZi_EbAnv54neV37OfOfAzbjSfa3SJba_?purpose=fullsize\"<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\u00a0<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Standing prominently on Hamilton Street in downtown Paterson, the Passaic County Courthouse<\/strong> is one of New Jersey’s finest examples of monumental civic architecture. For more than 120 years it has served as the center of Passaic County’s judicial system and remains one of the city’s most recognizable landmarks.<\/p>\n

A New Courthouse for a Growing County<\/h3>\n

By the late nineteenth century, Passaic County had outgrown its earlier courthouse. Paterson’s rapid industrial expansion and booming population created an increasing demand for larger courtrooms and modern county offices.<\/p>\n

In 1895<\/strong>, the Passaic County Board of Chosen Freeholders authorized plans for a new courthouse. Following a statewide architectural competition, noted New York architect Samuel Burrage Reed<\/strong> was selected to design the building. Reed was already well known for designing public buildings, churches, and residences throughout the Northeast.<\/p>\n

Construction<\/h3>\n

Construction began in 1898<\/strong> and continued for approximately five years.<\/p>\n

The courthouse was completed in 1903<\/strong> (with the building opening to the public shortly thereafter) at a cost that reflected Passaic County’s confidence and prosperity during the city’s industrial peak.<\/p>\n

Architecture<\/h3>\n

The courthouse is an outstanding example of Classical Revival<\/strong> architecture, a style chosen throughout the United States for government buildings because it symbolized justice, democracy, and permanence.<\/p>\n

Architectural highlights include:<\/p>\n