Warwick County Courthouses

By Asa Gillard – Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0 (Wikimedia)

“The Warwick County court square complex exemplifies the development of such complexes in Virginia during the nineteenth century. In 1810 the square contained a courthouse, clerk’s office, and jail. In 1884 a new courthouse was built; the old jail was replaced in 1899.. After 1904 the old clerk’s office was demolished. The square now contains only the two courthouses and the Confederate monument that was unveiled in 1909. For over three quarters of a century the square was the governmental center of county life, until its importance was eclipsed after 1881 by the dominance of the port of Newport News.”

The paragraph above is from the National Register of Historic Places Registration Form for the Warwick County Courthouses, specifically, the statement of significance on page three of the 14-page document. The registration form describes the building’s history and selected events e.g a letter from a Union soldier to his brother describing his unit’s encampment at the location.

Of special note, the Tidewater Genealogical Society (TGS) maintains its library at the 1884 Warwick County Courthouse. Information about the society, its library, and activities can be found on the TGS website.