City Halls of the Mid-Atlantic

The region boasts a vast collection of architecturally impressive municipal headquarters 

The city hall is the principal administrative building of a city. As symbols of local government, city halls often have distinctive architecture, and many of these buildings have great historical significance, being among the oldest buildings in their cities. 

The Mid-Atlantic region, which is one of the oldest and most heavily populated regions in the nation, is home to a relatively large number of city halls. As you'll see further down this page, certain city halls in the Mid-Atlantic hold records for being largest, tallest, or oldest in the nation. 

Most city halls in the region were built in the late 1800's when urban areas began to see heavy population growth, and municipal government services were in high demand. City halls in this era were usually built in central locations and designed in some form of Revival Architecture which gave these buildings with a grand presence. In addition to their elaborate architectural, many city halls were the among the largest buildings in their respective cities, and some still are today.  

Below you can view photos and information of the most exquisite city halls located in the Mid-Atlantic's largest (incorporated) cities.

WASHINGTON D.C.

John A. Wilson Building
Photo Credit: Wally Gobetz via flickr

Year Constructed: 1904
Architectural Style: Beaux Arts
City Population (2013): 646,449
Notes: Originally named the "District Building," the John A. Wilson Building is the city's second city hall. The original city hall was constructed in 1820 in the Neoclassical Style and is currently home to the District of Columbia Court of Appeals


DELAWARE
Wilmington

Daniel L. Hermann Courthouse

Year Constructed: 1916
Architectural Style: Neoclassical Revival-Greek Revival
City Population (2013): 71,525
Notes: This building originally held a number of courts and municipal offices and was at one point informally named the "Public Building," receiving it's current name only a couple of decades ago. The city and county government offices eventually moved to the Louis L. Redding City-County Building (built 1977) and in 2002 the courts moved to the newly built Justice Center, leaving the building vacant. The building was eventually purchased by developers and converted to office space, which has been occupied by a prestigious law firm since 2009.

MARYLAND
Baltimore

Baltimore City Hall

Year Constructed: 1875

Architectural Style: Second Empire
City Population (2013): 622,104
Notes: Designed by George Aloysius Frederick, a 22-year old architect. The building cost $2,271,136 and took eight years to complete.

Annapolis

Annapolis City Hall

Year Constructed: 1764 (original structure), 1867 (current structure)
Architectural Style: Neoclassical-Georgian
City Population (2013): 38,722
Notes: The original structure on this site was known as the "Ball Room" and used as different points in history as a meeting place of the Maryland Assembly, local headquarters
of Union troops during the Civil War, a guard house, and a prison camp. While being used as a prison camp it burned down and a new city hall was built on the ruins using three of the exterior walls of the original building.

Frederick

Frederick City Hall

Year Constructed: 1862

Architectural Style: Italianate
City Population (2013): 66,893
Notes: Originally the Frederick County courthouse.

Hagerstown

Hagerstown City Hall

Year Constructed: 1939

Architectural Style: Italian Renaissance Revival
City Population (2013): 40,612
Notes: Built by the federal government as a Public Works Administration project as part of the New Deal.

PENNSYLVANIA
Philadelphia

Philadelphia City Hall

Year Constructed: 1901
Architectural Style: Second Empire
City Population (2013): 1,553,165
Notes: With nearly 700 rooms, it is the largest municipal building in the United States. Designed to be the tallest building in the world, it was surpassed by the Washington Monument and Eiffel Tower during construction. At 548 it is still the 9th tallest building in Philadelphia


Pittsburgh

Pittsburgh City-County Building
Photo Credit: Ronald Woan via flickr

Year Constructed: 1917
Architectural Style: Beaux Arts
City Population (2013): 305,841
Notes: The building's main hall is surrounded by gilded classical columns 47 feet high, supporting a vaulted ceiling of Gustavino terra cotta tile


Reading

Reading City Hall

Year Constructed: 1904
Architectural Style: Beaux Arts
City Population (2013): 89,893
Notes: It was built in 1904 as a high school for boys and converted to use as a city hall in 1928


Scranton

Scranton City Hall
Photo Credit: Christopher Seliga via wikipedia

Year Constructed: 1888
Architectural Style: Gothic Revival
City Population (2013): 76,089
Notes: Shares a complex with the city's fire department headquarters building, which was built in the same style and at the same time. The two buildings are connected by a second-story bridge

Lancaster

Lancaster City Municipal Building
Photo Credit: Daniel Lobo via flickr

Year Constructed: 1892
Architectural Style: Moorish Revival
City Population (2013): 59,325
Notes: Formerly the city post office

NEW YORK
New York

New York City Hall
Photo Credit: Momos via wikipedia

Year Constructed: 1811
Architectural Style: French Renaissance Revival
City Population (2013): 8,405,837
Notes: New York City Hall is the oldest city hall in the United States that still houses its original governmental functions. Located directly in front of the building under City Hall Plaza is the now abandoned City Hall subway station, the southern terminus of the first subway service in New York CIty

Albany

Albany City Hall
Photo Credit: Matt H. Wade via wikipedia

Year Constructed: 1883

Architectural Style: Romanesque Revival
City Population (2013): 98,424
Notes: Designed in Romanesque style by Henry Hobson Richardson, a famed American architect, for $184,000 on a $185,000 budget. The tower includes 49 bells weighing 27 tons, which still play concerts during the week

Buffalo

Buffalo City Hall

Year Constructed: 1932
Architectural Style: Art Deco
City Population (2013): 258,959
Notes: At 378 ft. (32 stories) tall and with 566,313 sq. ft. of floor space, Buffalo City Hall is one of the tallest and largest municipal buildings in the nation. Between the 1st and 25th floor there are 1,520 windows

Rochester

Rochester City Hall
Photo Credit: Landmark Society of Western New York

Year Constructed: 1889
Architectural Style: Romanesque Revival
City Population (2013): 210,358
Notes: Originally constructed as the Federal Courthouse and Post Office, the city purchased the building from the federal government for $1 in 1973. The city subsequently renovated and added to the building and it has served as the city’s municipal headquarters since 1978. The Portland sandstone (the same type of stone used for New York City's famous brownstone homes) walls are 18 inches thick

Yonkers

Yonkers City Hall

Year Constructed: 1910
Architectural Style: French Renaissance Revival
City Population (2013): 199,766
Notes: The building's height to the tip of the tower is 160 ft

Syracuse

Syracuse City Hall

Year Constructed: 1889
Architectural Style: Romanesque Revival
City Population (2013): 144,669
Notes: The current city hall was built on the site of the old city hall, which had a bell tower. The brass bell from the old city hall was removed and was to be used in the new building, but architect wouldn't allow it, resulting in the mayor removing him from the project. The bell was installed and was used for nearly 50 years until it was replaced.

Schenectady

Schenectady City Hall
Photo Credit: Daniel Case via wikipedia

Year Constructed: 1931
Architectural Style: Neoclassical Revival-Federal
City Population (2013): 65,902
Notes: Major features of the building include the square clock tower topped by a golden dome and the Ionic neoclassical portico

NEW YORK
Newark

Newark City Hall

Year Constructed: 1902
Architectural Style: Beaux Arts
City Population (2013): 278,427
Notes: Developer Harry Grant paid to have the dome covered in 24 carat gold in 1986

Trenton

Trenton City Hall
Photo Credit: Famartin via wikipedia

Year Constructed: 1907
Architectural Style: Beaux Arts
City Population (2013): 84,349
Notes: The current City Hall replaced an older building constructed in 1838.

Jersey City

Jersey City City Hall
Photo Credit: Luigi Novi via wikipedia

Year Constructed: 1896

Architectural Style: Neoclassical Revival/Italian Renaissance Revival?
City Population (2013): 257,342
Notes: The building's center tower and square corners were once topped by 40 ft. tall brass cupolas. Concern for the public safety led to their removal in 1955

Paterson

Patterson City Hall
Photo credit: Joseph via flickr

Year Constructed: 1896
Architectural Style: Beaux Arts
City Population (2013): 145,948
Notes: Paterson, which is known as the "Silk City" for its dominant role in silk production during the latter half of the 19th century, has its city hall modeled after the Hôtel de Ville (city hall) in Lyon, France--the "capital" of the silk industry in Europe

Elizabeth

Elizabeth CIty Hall
Photo credit: Wally Gobetz via flickr

Year Constructed: 1940

Architectural Style: Neoclassical Revival
City Population (2013): 127,558
Notes: Replaced the original city hall constructed in 1865

Camden

Camden City Hall
Photo credit: PA Weekend Fun

Year Constructed: 1931
Architectural Style: Art Deco
City Population (2013): 76,903
Notes: At 371 ft. it is the tallest building in the Philadelphia Metro Area outside of the city of the Philadelphia.

WEST VIRGINIA
Charleston

Charleston City Hall

Year Constructed: 1921
Architectural Style: Beaux Arts
City Population (2013): 50,821
Notes: The Virginia St and Court St facades are entirely limestone, while the north and south facades (planned to be hidden from public view by adjacent buildings) are less impressive, but still handsome, brick