Colleton County is named for John Colleton, who was one of the Lords Proprietors of the Province of Carolina.
Surrounding County Courthouses:
N – Bamberg County and Orangeburg County
E – Dorchester County and Charleston County
W – Beaufort County and Hampton County
Created: 1800 
County Seat:
Jacksonboro 1800 – 1817
Walterboro 1817 – present
County Courthouse – Walterboro
Location: 101 Hampton Street / North Jefferies Boulevard
Built: 1820 – 1822
Style: Classical Revival
Architect: Robert Mills of Charleston and William Jay
Contractor: William N Thompson
Description: The building faces south and is a two story white colored brick and stucco structure. The building is located on spacious landscaped grounds in the center of Walterboro. The building is “T” shaped and has a stuccoed exterior representing stone. The building has a projecting higher center section with a portico having arches on the first story and supported by four large Tuscan columns on the second story. Stairs on either side of the portico ascend to the second story. The flat roof line is formed by a parapet extending the full width of the original center section and surmounted by a shorter, second parapet. In the interior, the large County Circuit Court courtroom is located at the center of the second story with large windows on the east and west sides. There is white colored woodwork. On the north side of the first story is a small courtroom. The building houses the County Circuit Court and County Family Court of the 14th Judicial Circuit. In 1843 to 1844, the building was reconstructed. The contractor was Jonathan Lucas and Benjamin Lucas. New additions were made to this building. The west wing was added in 1916. Then, in 1937 to 1939, the Works Progress Administration covered the west wing with brick, added a new east wing, built an addition to the north entrance and remodeled the interior. The building was restored in 2007. The architect was Stevens & Wilkinson and the contractor was Blanchard Construction. On the northwest side is the old jail built in 1856. To the northwest is the Old County Jail built in 1855 to 1856.
See: Robert Mills who was an architect in Charleston also designed courthouses in Hampton County, Horry County, Lancaster County, Marion County and Williamsburg County.
Note: The courthouse is the oldest courthouse in South Carolina still used as a courthouse.
See: National Register of Historic Places – Colletion County Courthouse
Old County Jail – Walterboro
Location: 109 Benson Street / North Jefferies Boulevard
Built: 1855 – 1856
Style: Gothic Revival
Architect: Edward C Jones and Francis D Lee of Charleston
Contractor: J Lucas and B Lucas of Charleston.
Description: The building faces south and is a two story white colored brick and stucco style structure. The rectangular shaped building is located on spacious landscaped grounds in the center of Walterboro. The building resembles a miniature, fortified castle and the front façade has crenellated parapets, turret-like structures at either corner, and a massive central tower with large lancet window above the main entrance. The building houses the County Administration and the County Probate Court of the 14th Judicial District.
See: National Register of Historic Places – Old Colleton County Jail
See: The 14th Judicial Circuit includes Allendale County, Beaufort County, Hampton County and Jasper County.
History: The county was created in 1800 and Jacksonboro was selected as the county seat. The first courthouse was built in Jacksboro after 1800. The county seat was moved to Waterboro in 1817. The second and present courthouse was built in 1820 to 1822.
County Courthouse – Walterboro
County Circuit Court courtroom
County Circuit Court small courtroom
Old County Jail – Walterboro
Photos taken 2008, 2020 and 2024
Images 27*