Rowan County - American Courthouses

Rowan County is named for Matthew Rowan, who was the acting Governor of colonial North Carolina following the death of Governor Nathaniel Rice.

Surrounding County Courthouses:

N – Davie County and Davidson County

E – Davidson County

S – Stanly County and Cabarrus County

W – Iredell County

Created: 1753

County Seat:

Salisbury 1753 – present

Old County Courthouse – Salisbury

Location: 202 West Main Street / Council Street

Built: 1854 – 1857

Style: Greek Revival

Architect: John W Conrad and John W Williams

Contractor: John W Conrad and John W Williams

Description: The building faces southeast and is a two story buff colored brick structure. The building is located on landscaped grounds in the center of Salisbury and is part of the Courthouse Complex. The front has a large portico with six large columns rising to a wide pediment at the roof line. There is a wide balcony on the second story. In the interior, an exceptionally wide hall goes straight through the middle of the building on the first story. The second story is given over entirely to the auditorium. The interior finish of the structure plaster over brick. The building is named as the Community Building and houses the Rowan County Museum. The building was renovated in 1972. The architect was Tennent & Tennent and the contractor was A L Jarrell & Sons.

See: National Register of Historic Places – Communities Building

County Courthouse – Salisbury

Location: 210 North Main Street / West Liberty Street

Built: 1912 – 1914

Style: Classical Revival

Architect: Anthony Ten Eyck Brown

Contractor: King Lumber Company

Description: The building faces southeast and is a two story gray colored stone and concrete style structure. The building is located on landscaped grounds in the center of Salisbury and is part of the Courthouse Complex. The southeast front has a large porch with four columns rising to a wide header with peaked section behind. The building is tired with an east and west wing. The roof line is flat. In the interior, the courtroom is located on the second story. The building houses the County Superior Court and County District Court of the 19th Judicial District. The building was renovated in 1970. The architect was Tennent & Tennent & Klutz and the contractor was Wagoner Construction

County Justice Center – Salisbury

Location: 210 North Main Street / West Liberty Street

Built: Unknown

Style: Modern

Architect: Unknown

Contractor: Unknown

Description: The building faces southeast and is a three story concrete and glass structure. The building is located on landscaped grounds in the center of Salisbury and is part of the Courthouse Complex. The building forms an “L” shape with an east wing ans large north wing which extends west behind the courthouse. The building houses the Superior Court and District Court of the 19th Judicial District.

See: The 19th Judicial District includes Cabarrus County, Hoke County, Moore County and Randolph County.

History: The county was created in 1753 and Salisbury was selected as the county seat. The first courts were held in private homes. The first courthouse was a wood frame structure constructed by John Whitsett in 1756 to 1757. The second courthouse was built in 1781 and not completed until 1800. The third courthouse was built in 1854 to 1857 and is still standing. The fourth and present courthouse was constructed in 1912 to 1914. The County Justice Center was constructed.

County Administration Building – Salisbury

Location: 130 West Innes Street / North Church Street

Built: 1909 – 1911

Style: Classical

Architect: James K. Knox, of Washington, DC

Contractor: George W Ashley & Company of Baltimore, Maryland.

Description: The building faces southwest and is a three story white colored Italian marble and concrete structure. The building is located on landscaped grounds in the center of Salisbury to the north of the courthouse. The front has five arches with recessed entrances on the first story. Four Corinthian columns rise from the second to the top of the third story. The Commissioners Chamber occupies the old courtroom on the second story. The building contains the county administration and is named as the J Newton Cohen Sr. Rowan County Administration Building. The building was constructed as the Post Office and Courthouse and was converted in 1995 to 1996. The architect was Ramsay, Burgin, Smith Architects of Salisbury and the contractor was Crescent Construction Company of Concord.

Note: The County purchased the building in 1979 for the cost of $70,000.