Cumberland County is named for Prince William, Duke of Cumberland, who was the 3rd son of King George II of England.
Surrounding County Courthouses:
N – Fluvanna County and Goochland County
E – Powhatan County and Amelia County
Created: January 1, 1748 
County Seat:
Cumberland 1749 – present
County Courthouse – Cumberland
Location: 1 Court House Circle / Foster Road
Built: 1818 – 1821
Style: Colonial Revival
Architect: William A Howard
Contractor: William A Howard
Description: The building faces south and is a one story red colored brick structure. The building is located on landscaped grounds in the center of Cumberland. The rectangular building is located on Courthouse Square with Clerk’s Office (1821), Jail (1823) and Administration Building (1966). The south front has a large Tuscan portico with four white colored columns rising to a wide pediment at the roof line. The recessed paneled double doors are framed by molded white colored trim and topped by a pediment and pulvinated frieze. The roof is hipped. The building was renovated in 1960 and an addition was constructed on the east side. The architect was Moseley Architects, Inc.
See: National Register of Historic Places – Cumberland County Courthouse
See: Thomas Jefferson designed the Roman Temple style of courthouse. Prominent among the courthouse builders who had worked at the University of Virginia were Dabney Cosby, Sr., Malcolm F Crawford, and William B Phillips. They in turn influenced other builders in the Jeffersonian idiom, including Branch Ellington, William A Howard, David Meade, and Valentine Parrish. Courthouse still standing include those in Buckingham County and Charlotte County designed by Jefferson and those in Caroline County, Clarke County, Cumberland County, Goochland County, Greene County, Lunenburg County, Madison County, Mecklenburg County, Nottoway County, Page County, Rappahannock County and Sussex County.
County Clerk’s Office – Cumberland
Location: 1 Court House Circle / Foster Road
Built: 1821 – 1822
Style: Colonial Revival
Architect: William A Howard
Contractor: William A Howard
Description: The building faces south and s a one story red colored brick structure. The building is located on Courthouse Square on the east side of the courthouse. The south front has a small portico with four octagonal white colored columns rising to a pediment at the roof line. The roof is hipped.
See: The 10th Judicial Circuit includes Appomattox County, Buckingham County, Charlotte County, Halifax County, Lunenburg County, Mecklenburg County and Prince Edward County.
History: The first courthouse in 1749 was the Mosby Tavern built in 1740. The tavern served as the courthouse until Powhatan County was created in 1777. The county seat was moved to Cumberland and the second courthouse was erected in 1777. The third and present courthouse was built in 1818 to 1821. The architect follow the design established by Thomas Jefferson.
County Courthouse – Cumberland
Photos taken 2013