Benton County - American Courthouses

Benton County is named for Samuel Benton, who was a general in the Confederate Army.

Surrounding County Courthouses:

N – Hardeman County, Tennessee

E – Tippah County

S – Union County

W – Marshall County

Created: July 21, 1870

County Seat:

Ashland 1870 – present

Old County Courthouse – Ashland

Location: 61 Main Street / Ripley Avenue

Built: 1872 – 1873

Style: Greek Revival

Architect: George Wilson Patrick Sr. of Booneville

Contractor: Patrick & Price

Description: The building faces east and is a two story white colored brick and wood structure. The building is located on the landscaped grounds of Courthouse Square in the center of Ashland. The east front has a high central portico with two tall columns rising to a pediment at the roof line. There is a small balcony above the first story entrance, There is a similar portico on the west side. The center section of the building projects slightly. On the center of the roof is an octagonal wood cupola with a dome at the top. The roof is hipped. Additions were added in 1948 and 1970. The building now houses the Benton County Historical Society.

County Courthouse – Ashland

Location: 190 Ripley Avenue / Boundary Drive

Built: Unknown

Style: Industrial

Architect: Unknown

Contractor: Unknown

Description: The building faces north and is a one story white-yellow colored brick and concrete structure. The building is located on the west edge of the center of Ashland and was formerly the ABC Shirt and Dress factory. The north front has the main entrance on the east end where the building projects and is lower in height than the main building. A curved canopy runs along the roof line and continued west along the main part of the building. The building has small windows and a flat roof, and was converted into the courthouse in 2002. In the interior, on the west side is the large County Circuit Court courtroom and on the south side is the County Justice Court courtroom. The building houses the County Circuit Court of the 3rd Judicial District, County Chancery Court and County Justice Court. During the renovation, the construction supervisor was Thomas Daniel.

History: The county was created in 1870 and Ashland was selected as the county seat. The first courthouse was constructed in 1872 to 1873 and is still standing. The second and present courthouse is a converted garment factory in 2002.

See: The 3rd Judicial District includes Calhoun County, Chickasaw County, Lafayette County, Marshall County, Tippah County and Union County.