List of county courthouses in Georgia explained

The U.S. state of Georgia is divided into 159 counties, more than any other state except for Texas, which has 254 counties. In Georgia, county seats typically have a courthouse at a town square. Courthouses in Georgia have been replaced for a variety of reasons. Courthouses have typically been replaced over time due to natural wear on courthouses, being destroyed in the Civil War, or communities outgrowing their current courthouse. When county seats have been moved, a new courthouse was typically constructed. Courthouses in Georgia have also been destroyed by disasters including fire, tornadoes, war, and arson. The most recent county courthouse to suffer a disaster was the burning of Hancock County, Georgia's courthouse in August 2014.

History

The architectural style of courthouses in Georgia has varied over time and from region to region.

Antebellum

It was common for the first courthouse of a county on the frontier to be a log cabin type structure. Houses being repurposed for county courthouses was not an uncommon method for a county acquiring a courthouse. Courthouses often doubled as churches and schools before the 1900s. During Georgia's colonial period the area was subdivided into parishes. Some parishes did have the equivalent of county courthouses. No county courthouses in Georgia from the 1700s currently survive.[1]

By the mid-1800s it became common for courthouses to still be made of wood, but out of wood that had been processed into boards instead of unhewed logs. The Old Marion County Courthouse in Tazewell, Georgia and the Old Chattahoochee County Courthouse are only two surviving wooden courthouses in Georgia. Neither are currently in use as a courthouse. County seats of areas with larger populations often built courthouses made out of bricks before counties from more rural areas. Vernacular architecture was a common style. Greek Revival was another common pre-Civil War architectural style for county courthouses.[2]

American Civil War

During the American Civil War, twelve county courthouses were destroyed by Union troops. In June 1863, the courthouse of McIntosh County at Darien was destroyed by Union Troops along with most of the town. Dade County was destroyed in 1863 during the Chattanooga Campaign. Catoosa County's courthouse at Ringgold was saved from destruction by William Tecumseh Sherman when he learned it was also a Masonic lodge.[3]

The courthouses of Cherokee County, Clayton County, Cobb County, Polk County, and Whitfield County were destroyed in 1864 during the Atlanta Campaign. The courthouses of Bulloch, Butts, Screven County, Washington County, and Wilkinson County were destroyed during Sherman's March to the Sea in 1864.[4]

Reconstruction to the 1920s

By the late 1800s, brick courthouses were more common than they had been earlier in the century. Many courthouses were being constructed in styles more elaborate than the typical vernacular architecture, which had previously been common. Neoclassical, Italianate, and Romanesque were the most common architectural styles of county courthouses during the late 1800s. High Victorian Gothic and Second Empire were also common.[5]

Works Progress Administration

During the 1930s, the Works Progress Administration assisted many county governments with building new courthouses and renovating older courthouses. Stripped Classicism and Colonial Revival were two of the more common styles during the 1930s.[6]

Post-World War II courthouses

After World War II, Neoclassical architecture had been surpassed by Modern architecture as the top style for new courthouses. When modern architecture was not used as the style of a new courthouse, it was often due to an attempt to replicate the appearance of a previous. By the 1980s, many counties began to replace their historic courthouses with judicial complexes. Most offices would be transferred to the new building, but some would remain in the old courthouses.[7]

Surviving original county courthouses

It is uncommon for counties to still have their original courthouse. The surviving county courthouses that were their county's first courthouse are:[8]

A county still having their previous county courthouse in existence is not uncommon. Many previous county courthouses have been repurposed as museums. It is rare for a county to have more than one previous county courthouse still in existence, or to have a courthouse still in existence other than the one immediately preceding their current one. The Old Bartow County Courthouse, 1869 Clayton County Courthouse, Floyd County Courthouse, and the Old Spalding County Courthouse are examples of such courthouses. The only surviving courthouse from a town that is not the current county seat is the Old Marion County Courthouse in Tazewell, Georgia.[9]

Oldest courthouses

The ten oldest of Georgia's county courthouses still in existence are:[10]

The ten oldest of Georgia's county courthouses currently in use as courthouses are:[11]

County courthouse listing

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Book: Jordan . Robert H.. Puster . J. Gregg . 1984 . Courthouses in Georgia . Harrison Company . 9780910694018.
  2. Book: Jordan . Robert H.. Puster . J. Gregg . 1984 . Courthouses in Georgia . Harrison Company . 9780910694018.
  3. Web site: Counties. . 2017. GEORGIAINFO: An Online Georgia Almanac . Digital Library of Georgia. 30 March 2017.
  4. Web site: Counties. . 2017. GEORGIAINFO: An Online Georgia Almanac . Digital Library of Georgia. 30 March 2017.
  5. Book: Jordan . Robert H.. Puster . J. Gregg . 1984 . Courthouses in Georgia . Harrison Company . 9780910694018.
  6. Book: Jordan . Robert H.. Puster . J. Gregg . 1984 . Courthouses in Georgia . Harrison Company . 9780910694018.
  7. Book: Jordan . Robert H.. Puster . J. Gregg . 1984 . Courthouses in Georgia . Harrison Company . 9780910694018.
  8. Web site: Counties. . 2017. GEORGIAINFO: An Online Georgia Almanac . Digital Library of Georgia. 30 March 2017.
  9. Book: Jordan . Robert H.. Puster . J. Gregg . 1984 . Courthouses in Georgia . Harrison Company . 9780910694018.
  10. Web site: Counties. . 2017. GEORGIAINFO: An Online Georgia Almanac . Digital Library of Georgia. 30 March 2017.
  11. Web site: Counties. . 2017. GEORGIAINFO: An Online Georgia Almanac . Digital Library of Georgia. 30 March 2017.
  12. Web site: Counties. . 2017. GEORGIAINFO: An Online Georgia Almanac . Digital Library of Georgia. 30 March 2017.
  13. News: . Court House Burned. The Macon Telegraph and Messager. Macon, Georgia. 9 September 1876. 30 June 2021.
  14. News: Wilson. Asia . 29 October 2018. Baker Co. voting precinct destroyed during Hurricane Michael. WALB. Albany, Georgia. 5 November 2018.
  15. News: . Court House Burnt. Southern Recorder. Milledgeville, Georgia. 26 February 1861 . 13 May 2017.
  16. News: . Correspondence of the Morning News. Daily Morning News. Savannah, Georgia. 28 May 1856. 14 May 2017.
  17. News: . Fire in Waynesboro . Central Georgian. Sandersville, Georgia. 31 January 1856 . 21 August 2017.
  18. News: . We are sorry to hear... . Georgia Courier. Augusta, Georgia. 14 February 1828. 21 August 2017.
  19. News: . The court house. Bainbridge Democrat. Bainbridge, Georgia. 17 December 1891. 13 May 2017.
  20. Book: Huxford, Folks. 1916. History of Clinch County, Georgia. Macon, Georgia. J. W. Burke Company. 46.
  21. News: . Courthouse Fire Licks at Dynamite Cache. Atlanta Journal and the Atlanta Constitution . Atlanta, Georgia. 4 May 1952.
  22. News: . The court house.... Houston Home Journal. Perry, Georgia. 13 October 1898. 13 May 2017.
  23. News: . Courthouse Burns in Coffee County. Atlanta Constitution . Atlanta, Georgia. 26 November 1938.
  24. News: . Fire. Home Journal. Perry, Georgia. 17 March 1881. 16 April 2017.
  25. News: . Dade Court House Burnt. Savannah Daily Georgian. Savannah, Georgia. 20 April 1853. 13 May 2017.
  26. News: . DeKalb Courthouse Destroyed by Blaze. Atlanta Constitution . Atlanta, Georgia. 14 September 1916.
  27. News: . Court House Burnt. The Georgia Telegraph. Macon, Georgia. 18 May 1847. 13 May 2017.
  28. News: . Court House Consumed . Macon Telegraph. Macon, Georgia. 5 January 1898. 12 May 2017.
  29. News: . Fire at Swainsborough. Daily Chronicle and Sentinel. Augusta, Georgia. 5 May 1841. 28 August 2017.
  30. News: . Court House Burns Down. The Home journal. Perry, Georgia. 5 June 1919 . 28 August 2017.
  31. News: . Courthouse fire suspect denied planning arson. Atlanta Constitution . Atlanta, Georgia. 6 October 1982.
  32. News: . DOI Called on Cumming Courthouse Fire. The Atlanta Constitution. Atlanta, Georgia . 7 November 1973 .
  33. News: . 22 September 1897. Notice of Levy of Special Tax. The Brunswick Times. Brunswick, Georgia. 11 March 2023.
  34. News: . 4 March 1897. 'Twas not like Banquo's Ghost. The Brunswick Times. Brunswick, Georgia. 11 March 2023.
  35. News: . 23 February 1908. To Welcome Friends In New Home. The Brunswick News. Brunswick, Georgia. 12 March 2023.
  36. News: . Old Cairo Courthouse Burns Down. Atlanta Constitution. Atlanta, Georgia . 19 February 1980.
  37. News: . Court House Burned. Atlanta Constitution. Atlanta, Georgia. 15 September 1871.
  38. News: . FIRES!. Southern Banner. Athens, Georgia . 25 December 1851.
  39. News: Womack. Amy. 11 August 2014. Cause undetermined for fire that destroyed Hancock County Courthouse. Macon Telegraph. Macon Georgia. 14 May 2017.
  40. News: Carter. Margaret-Ann. Key. Randy. 11 May 2016. Hancock County Courthouse Rises From The Ashes. News Channel 6 WJBF. 14 May 2017.
  41. News: . Burning of Heard County's Courthouse. Herald and Advertiser. Newnan, Georgia. 16 March 1894. 14 May 2017.
  42. News: . Houston Has Had Three Courthouses In Its 153 Years. Houston Home Journal. Perry, Georgia. 6 June 1974. 22 August 2017.
  43. News: . Court House Burnt. Southern Recorder. Milledgeville, Georgia. 30 March 1858.
  44. News: . Another Court House Burnt. Southern Banner. Athens, Georgia. 1 July 1858. 16 April 2017.
  45. News: . Building A New Courthouse. Atlanta Constitution. Atlanta, Georgia. 13 March 1904.
  46. News: . Festival Scheduled April 1. Houston Home Journal. Perry, Georgia. 23 March 1978. 22 August 2017.
  47. News: . We regret to hear.... Albany Patriot. Albany, Georgia. 5 March 1857. 13 May 2017.
  48. News: . A Court House Burnt - Great Excitement - Valuable Documents Lost. Columbus enquirer. Columbus, Georgia. 10 March 1857. 21 August 2017.
  49. News: . Festival Scheduled April 1. Houston Home Journal. Perry, Georgia. 23 March 1978. 22 August 2017.
  50. News: . Another Fire. Savannah Daily Republican. Savannah, Georgia. 13 November 1845. 20 January 2018.
  51. News: . 31 January 1873. Letter From Darien. Savannah Morning News. Savannah, Georgia. 8 March 2023.
  52. News: . Mysterious fire rekindles history. The Atlanta Constitution. Atlanta, Georgia. 13 December 1981.
  53. News: . Meriwether Keeps Sprouting New Courthouses. Atlanta Constitution . Atlanta, Georgia. 16 February 1878.
  54. Book: Caldwell, Wilber. 2001. The Courthouse and the Depot. Mercer University Press. 282. 9780865547483 .
  55. News: . State Items. Newnan Herald. Newnan, Georgia . 26 January 1867. 14 May 2017.
  56. News: . Court House Burned. Georgia Constitutionalist. Augusta, Georgia. 3 September 1844. 21 August 2017.
  57. News: . The following is an extract.... Chronicle and sentinel. Augusta, Georgia. 16 October 1838. 22 August 2017.
  58. News: . Covingtons was the scene... . Early County News. Blakely, Georgia. 3 January 1884. 19 May 2018.
  59. News: . Georgia Courthouse Is Razed By Flames. Butler Herald. Butler, Georgia. 12 May 1938. 22 August 2017.
  60. News: . Arson Probed In Peach Fire. Atlanta Constitution. Atlanta, Georgia. 10 December 1969.
  61. News: . Incendiarism at Blackshear. Savannah Morning News. Savannah, Georgia. 13 March 1875. 3 May 2017.
  62. News: Dixon . Dawn . 11 June 2008. Making a home out of history. Blackshear Times. Blackshear, Georgia. 3 May 2017.
  63. News: . Old Courthouse Being Razed. Butler Herald. Butler, Georgia. 28 October 1937. 22 August 2017.
  64. News: . Georgia Town Has A Bad Blaze. Sandersville Herald. Sanderville, Georgia. 14 January 1897. 22 August 2017.
  65. News: . Stewart County Courthouse Destroyed Fire Early Today. Daily Times Enterprise . Thomasville, Georgia. 21 April 1922. 16 April 2017.
  66. News: . They have a nice reason.... Butler Herald. Butler, Georgia. 10 May 1934. 22 August 2017.
  67. News: Hilt . Kathy . The End of Era; The Beginning of Another . February 7, 2024 . Southeast Georgia Today . February 6, 2024.
  68. News: . Twiggs Courthouse Was Burned to the Ground. Macon Telegraph. Macon, Georgia. 8 February 1901. 7 December 2021.
  69. News: . Court House Burnt. Southern Banner. Athens, Georgia. 15 May 1856.
  70. News: . Layfayette Courthouse Burned. Atlanta Constitution. Atlanta, Georgia. 3 February 1883.
  71. Book: Jordan . Robert H.. Puster . J. Gregg . 1984 . Courthouses in Georgia . 171 . Harrison Company . 9780910694018.
  72. News: . Destructive Fire at Waycross. Savannah Morning News. Savannah, Georgia. 14 October 1874. 26 April 2017.
  73. News: . Disastrous Fire. Daily Morning News. Savannah, Georgia. 27 April 1854. 13 May 2017.
  74. News: . Loss $60,000 in Big Blaze. Atlanta Georgian and News. Atlanta, Georgia. 7 April 1909. 21 August 2017.
  75. News: . Sandersville in Ruins. Southern Recorder. Milledgeville, Georgia. 27 March 1855. 14 May 2017.
  76. News: . Grand Jury Presentments. Central Georgian. Sandersville, Georgia. 21 March 1866. 21 August 2017.
  77. News: . Webster Courthouse Damaged by Fire. Grady County Progress. Cairo, Georgia . 2 October 1914. 16 April 2017.
  78. News: . 27 March 1878. Burning of the Wilcox County Courthouse. Savannah Morning News. Savannah, Georgia. 29 June 2021.
  79. News: . The court-house.... Southern Recorder. Milledgeville. 4 February 1854. 14 May 2017.
  80. News: . Court House Burned. Albany News. Albany, Georgia. 30 January 1879. 13 May 2017.
  81. News: . Court House Burnt. Weekly Sumter Republican. Americus, Georgia. 29 October 1880. 13 May 2017.
  82. News: . Fire at Isabella. Americus Times-Recorder. Americus, Georgia. 10 August 1893.