Greene County - American Courthouses

Greene County is named for Nathanael Greene, who was a hero during the American Revolutionary War.

Surrounding County Courthouses:

N – Oconee County and Oglethorpe County

E – Taliaferro County

S – Hancock County

W – Putnam County and Morgan County

Created: February 3, 1786

County Seat:

Greensboro 1786 – present

County Courthouse – Greensboro

Location: 113 North Main Street / East Green Street

Built: 1848 – 1849

Style: Greek Revival

Architect: David Demarest of Athens and Atharates Atkinson of Madison

Contractor: David Demarest of Athens and Atharates Atkinson of Madison

Description: The building faces west and is a three story red colored brick, wood and stone structure. The rectangular shaped building is located on landscaped grounds in the center of Greensboro. The west front has a large porch with four large white colored columns rising to a pediment at the roof line. In the interior, the County Superior Court courtroom on the second story is reached by dual staircases that are placed immediately inside the front entry. The double doorway leading into the courtroom is pedimented with engaged columns on each side. Two columns stand in the midst of the courtroom giving the room more weight. The cornice has five-pointed stars that encircle the room and at one time they were gilded. The plain bench is paneled and four urn shaped finials top the railing between the litigation and spectator sections. A third story was added and served as a meeting room until 1897 and now houses the small courtroom. The building houses the County Superior Court, County Juvenile Court, County Probate Court and County Magistrate Court of the 8th Judicial District. On the north and south sides are small one story additions. The building was remodeled in 1938. The architect was F Arthur Hazard and the contractor was Knox Brothers Lumber Company of Thomson. On the east side is a modern three story addition constructed in 1998. An atrium between the sections rises to the top of the third story and has stairs ascending to the upper levels. On the north side is the old granite stone County Jail built in 1807 and the old red colored brick County Jail and Sheriff Residence built in 1895.

Note: This is the only 1840’s Greek Revival Courthouse remaining in Georgia, and the only one which has a third floor built to be used by the Masonic Lodge. It is still used in the same manner today. It is an excellent example of the Greek Revival style as interpreted by architect/builders of this pre-civil war period.

See: The contractor, David Demaret of Athens also constructed the old courthouse in Splading County.

See: National Register of Historic Places – Greene County Courthouse

See: The 8th Judicial District includes Baldwin County, Ben Hill County, Bleckley County, Candler County, Crisp County, Dodge County, Dooly County, Emanuel County, Hancock County, Jasper County, Jefferson County, Johnson County, Jones County, Laurens County, Montgomery County, Morgan County, Pulaski County, Putnam County, Telfair County, Toombs County, Treutlen County, Twiggs County, Washington County, Wheeler County, Wilcox County and Wilkinson County

History: The county was created in 1786 and Greensboro was designated as the county seat. The first courthouse was a log structure built after 1786. The second and present courthouse was constructed in 1848 to 1849.