Panola County is named for the Native American word meaning “cotton”.
Surrounding County Courthouses:
N – Tate County
E – Lafayette County
S – Yalobusha County and Tallahatchie County
W – Quitman County and Tunica County
Created: February 9, 1836
County Seat:
Panola 1836 – 1866
Batesville 1836 – present ( Second Judicial District )
Sardis 1836 – present ( First Judicial District )
* Panola County has two county seats
County Courthouse – Batesville
Location: 151 Public Square / Court Street
Built: 1966 – 1967
Style: Modern
Architect: Pritchard and Nickles
Contractor: Carothers & Carothers
Description: The building faces southwest and is a one story red colored brick, glass and concrete structure. The building is located on landscaped grounds in the center of Batesville. The southwest front has large porch supported by thin white colored pillars rising to the roof overhang. Behind is a glass panel wall with the entrances on either side of the center glass wall. A horizontal white band runs along the roof line. The building extends northeast and a lower wing extends northwest with a smaller porch at the northwest entrance. The roof line is flat. In the interior, the building has a large high ceiling County Circuit Court courtroom. The building houses the court for the Second District County Circuit Court of the 17th Judicial District, County Chancery Court, County Youth Court and County Justice Court.
County Courthouse – Sardis
Location: 215 South Pocahontas Street / McLaurin Street
Built: 1973 – 1974
Style: Modern
Architect: Pritchard and Nickles
Contractor: McCain & Associates
Description: The building faces east and is a one story red colored brick, glass and concrete structure. The building is located on landscaped grounds in the center of Sardis. The east front has a high center section with vertical brick dividers rising to the roof overhang. There is a center entrance with glass above. On either side of the center are glass walls and more entrances on the north and south sides of the front. The building is lower on the north and south sides. A wide horizontal white colored band runs along the flat roof line. The building houses the First District County Circuit Court of the 17th Judicial District, County Chancery Court and County Justice Court.
See: The 17th Judicial District includes DeSoto County, Tallahatchie County, Tate County and Yalobusha County.
History: The county was created in 1836 and Panola was selected as the county seat. The first courthouse was erected in Panola. Batesville became the county seat in 1866 when Panola was absorbed. Sardis became the second county seat in 1866. The second courthouse was built in 1873 in Sardis. The third courthouse was a two story structure built in Batesville in 1880. The fourth courthouse was designed by L M Weathers and constructed by M T Lewman & Company in Sardis in 1903. The fifth and present courthouse in Batesville was constructed in 1967. The sixth and present courthouse was constructed in Sardice in 1973 to 1974.
County Courthouse – Batesville
County Circuit Court courtroom
County Courthouse – Sardis
Photos taken 2012 and 2017
Images 18