Rockland County is named for the early settlers’ description of the terrain as “rocky land”.
Surrounding County Courthouses:
N – Putnam County and Westchester County
S – Bergen County, New Jersey and Passaic County, New Jersey
W – Orange County
Created: February 23, 1798
County Seat:
Tappan 1798
New City 1798 – present
County Courthouse – New City
Location: 1 South Main Street / Congers Road
Built: 1928 – 1929
Style: Beaux Arts / Art Deco
Architect: Dennison & Hirons
Contractor: Works Projects Administration using local labor and trades
Description: The building faces east and is a three story gray colored Indiana limestone structure. The building is located on spacious landscaped grounds in the center of New City. The east front has a recessed center section with three high rectangular opening with entrances on the first story. The north and south wings project. The roof line is flat. In the interior is a three story lobby that extends across thee east front.
History: In 1691 a log structure with whipping posts and stocks, was erected on the green in Tappan which was then in Orange County. A courthouse and jail was built in 1739 but was destroyed by fire in 1774. The county was created in 1798 and Tappan was selected as the county seat. In the same year the county seat was moved to New City when Rockland County was set off from Orange County. The first courthouse was built in 1798 in New City The second courthouse was a brick structure built in 1827 with additions added in 1846, 1856 and 1873. The third and present courthouse was constructed in 1928 to 1929.
County Courthouse – New City
Photos taken 2014