Charles County is named for Charles Calvert, 3rd Baron Baltimore, who was the second proprietor of the Maryland colony.
Surrounding County Courthouses:
N – Fairfax County, Virginia and Prince George’s County
E – Prince George’s County, Calvert County and Saint Mary’s County
S – Westmoreland County, Virginia and King George County, Virginia
W – Stafford County, Virginia, Prince William County, Virginia and Fairfax County, Virginia
Created: April 13, 1658
County Seat:
Moore’s Lodge 1658 – 1727
Port Tobacco 1727 – 1895
La Plata 1895 – present
County Courthouse – La Plata
Location: 200 Charles Street / Washington Avenue
Built: 1953 – 1954
Style: Modern Colonial Revival
Architect: Federick Tilp
Contractor: Kahn Engineering Company.
Description: The building faces south and is a two story red colored brick and concrete structure. The building is located on landscaped grounds in the center of La Plata. The south front has a large portico at the central entrance with four white colored columns rising to a pediment at the roof line. On the center of the roof is a square cupola with round sections at the top. The roof is hipped. The north side of the building is glass with a connection to another building on the north side.
History: The county was created in 1658 and Moore’s Lodge (near La Plata) was selected as the county seat. The first courthouse was built at Moore’s Lodge in 1674 and expanded as a timber-frame structure in 1677. In 1727 the county seat was moved to Charles Town, formerly Chandler Town which in 1721 became Port Tobacco. The second courthouse was built in 1730 and destroyed in 1808. The third courthouse, a two story brick structure was built in 1819 to 1821. The building was later destroyed by fire in August 1894. In 1895 the county seat was moved to La Plata. In 1896, the fourth courthouse was a Romanesque structure designed by Joseph C Johnson and constructed by James Haislip. The fifth and present courthouse was constructed in 1953 to 1954.
Old County Courthouse – Port Tobacco
Location: 8430 Commerce Street / Warehouse Landing Road
Built: 1819 – 1821
Style: Federal
Architect: Unknown
Contractor: Unknown
Description: The building faces east and is a two story wood and red colored brick structure. In 1972 the building was rebuilt as a replica of the original courthouse. The original structure burned in August 1892.
County Courthouse – La Plata
Photos taken 2013
Images 12