Newton County is named for Isaac Newton, who was an English physicist, mathematician, astronomer, natural philosopher, alchemist and theologian.
Surrounding County Courthouses:
N – Neshoba County
S – Jasper County
W – Scott County
Created: February 25, 1836
County Seat:
Decatur 1836 – present
County Courthouse – Decatur
Location: 92 West Broad Street / 4th Avenue
Built: 1972
Style: Modern
Architect: Charles P McMullan & Associates of Jackson
Contractor: Tatum Concrete Company, Inc. of Newton
Description: The building faces north and is a two story red colored brick and concrete structure. The building is located on landscaped grounds in the center of Decatur. The north front has a large porch with recessed entrance and supported by six columns rising to the flat roof overhang. Along the sides are vertical white colored concrete dividers. The rear section of the building extends from the main building. The roof line is flat. In the interior, t County Circuit Court courtroom is located on the second story. The building house the County Circuit Court of the 8th Judicial District, County Chancery Court and County Youth Court. On the south east side is the County Courthouse Annex which was the County Agricultural Building renovated in 1999.
See: The 8th Judicial District includes Leake County, Neshoba County and Scott County.
History: The county was created in 1836 and Decatur was selected as the county seat. The first courthouse was a log structure erected in 1836. The second courthouse was a frame structure built in 1840. The courthouse burned in 1845 and was reconstructed. The courthouse was destroyed in 1864 during the Civil War. The third courthouse was a frame structure built which burned in September 1876. The fourth courthouse was a two story brick structure built by Mr. Scully of Meridian in 1877 at a cost of $7,000. The courthouse was destroyed by fire in February 1911. The fifth courthouse was a two story structure designed by P J Krouse and built by G H Dabbs & Company in 1912. The sixth and present courthouse was constructed in 1972.
County Courthouse – Decatur
County Circuit Court courtroom
County Courthouse Annex – Decatur
Photos taken 2012 and 2017
Images 17*