Botetourt County is named for Norborne Berkeley, who was the Baron de Botetourt known as Lord Botetourt and who was the governor of the Virginia Colony from 1767 to 1770.
Surrounding County Courthouses:
N – Alleghany County and Rockbridge County
E – Bedford County
S – Roanoke County
W – Craig County and Alleghany County
Created: 1770
County Seat:
Fincastle 1770 – present
County Courthouse (demolished) – Fincastle
Location: 1 West Main Street / Roanoke Street
Built: 1972 – 1974
Style: Modern Colonial
Architect: Hinnant, Addison and Hinnant of Lexington
Contractor: Montgomery Construction Company
Description: The building faced south and was a two story red colored brick and concrete structure. The building was located oo landscaped grounds in the center of Fincastle. The south front had a large portico with four white colored columns rising to a pediment at the roof line. There were east and west wings. On the center of the roof was a square white colored cupola with clock ad spite at the top. In the interior, the courtroom was located on the second story. The building housed the County Circuit Court. of the 25th Judicial Circuit. On the west side of the courthouse are the Old Jail, Old District Courts Building and Extension Building. The building was demolished in 2024.
See: The architect, Hinnant, Adison & Hinnant of Lexington, designed courthouses in Buena Vista, Grayson County and Shenandoah County.
County Courthouse – Fincastle
Location: 1 West Main Street / Roanoke Street
Built: 2025 -2027
Style: Modern
Architect: Architectural Partners (AP)
Contractor: Jamerson-Lewis Construction Company
Description: The building faces south and is under construction. The project manager is Rich Evans.
District Courts Building – Fincastle
Location: 20 East Back Street / Roanoke Street
Built: 1997 – 1988
Style: Modern
Architect: Hayes, Seay, Mattern & Mattern
Contractor: Martin Brothers Contractors, Inc.
Description: The building faces south and is a two story red colored brick and concrete structure. The building is located on landscaped grounds in the center of Fincastle to the north of the courthouse. The south front has a two story section at the west side with canopy at the entrance and high windows on the second story. Above is a clock with pitched roof. The west wing is one story with hipped roof and the east wings is large and has a hipped roof. The building houses the Count General District Court and County Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court of the 25th Judicial Circuit.
See: The 25th Judicial Circuit includes Alleghany County, Augusta County, Bath County, Buena Vista, Clifton Forge, Covington, Craig County, Highland County, Lexington, Rockbridge County, Staunton and Waynesboro.
History: The county was created in 1769 and Fincastle was selected as the county seat in 1770. The first courthouse was built in 1773 and the second courthouse was built by William Barton in 1818. The third courthouse constructed by Smith & Stratton in 1848, burned in a fire on December 15, 1970. The fourth courthouse was constructed in 1972 to 1974 at a cost of $743,377. The District Court Building was constructed in 1997 to 1999. In 2024 the courthouse was demolished and the fifth and present courthouse was constructed in 2025 to 2027 at a cost of $37,000,000.
County Courthouse – Fincastle
County General District Court courtroom
Picture 1848 County Courthouse
Old Jail – Fincastle
Old District Courts Building – Fincastle
Extension Building – Fincastle
District Courts Building – Fincastle
Photos taken 2013
Images 20*