National Register of Historic Places

Crawford County Courthouse

Knoxville, Crawford County, Georgia
Listed
September 17, 1980
Type
Building
Period
Industrial
Ref No.
80001008

About this property

The Crawford County courthouse in Knoxville, Georgia served as such from 1832 to 2001. Until the time it was removed from service, it was the oldest courthouse still in use in Georgia. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1980. In an act of December 23, 1822, the legislature authorized Crawford County's initial inferior court to select a site to serve as county seat and provide for construction of a courthouse with a provision that such site "be as near the center of the county as convenience will admit." (Ga. Laws 1822, p. 23) The same act provided that until a courthouse could be built, Crawford County courts and elections would be held at the home of Imlay Vansciver. In December 1823, the legislature designated Knoxville as the county seat. At some point thereafter, Crawford County's first courthouse was built. That structure burned down in 1829 or 1830. The following year, construction of a new courthouse began. The new building was completed in January 1832. Since then, there have been numerous repairs and remodeling, with extensive interior renovations and construction of a small addition in the late 1960s. Around 1890, a new railroad was built through the middle of Crawford County following a north-south route. For whatever reason, the railroad's path came near to, but skipped, the county seat of Knoxville. The historic structure is now the home of the Crawford County Historical Society. In 2001-02, a new courthouse was built one block behind the old courthouse, as the previous structure was built long before elevators were invented for the disabled. The new courthouse has a clock tower on top of it, which sunk into the roof shortly after completion, causing major damage. It has since been repaired, although some residents of Knoxville remain wary of it. Today the courthouse serves as a museum, and is also home to the Crawford County Historical Society. The flag that flies outside of the courthouse is derived from the Lone star flag, the state flag of Texas.

Location

Knoxville, Crawford County, Georgia
32.72453, -83.99798

Categories

ECONOMICSLAWPOLITICS/GOVERNMENTARCHITECTURECOMMUNICATIONS
National Register nomination ›
Sources

Property data from the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).

Description adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

Unlimited access

Everything a full report reveals about Crawford County Courthouse

This page lists Crawford County Courthouse. A full Aubrey report for an address near it pulls together this listing alongside battlefield records, land patents, and every other historical record within a chosen radius:

Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
First month just $5.99, then $11.99 a month. Unlimited locations, cancel anytime.

Every location is different. Not every section appears for every place, only what the historical record actually holds turns up in a report.

Start your Crawford County Courthouse report
Or see a real report first

Nearby Historic Sites

Crawford County Jail
Industrial
0.1 mi
The Georgia Post Building
Industrial
0.2 mi
Roberta Historic District
Listed
0.8 mi
Hawkins, Col. Benjamin, Gravesite
Listed
6.9 mi
Williams-Moore-Hillsman House
Civil War
7.9 mi

Questions about this property

When was Crawford County Courthouse listed on the National Register?

Crawford County Courthouse was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on September 17, 1980.

What type of historic resource is Crawford County Courthouse?

Crawford County Courthouse is classified as a building in the National Register of Historic Places.

What is the period of significance for Crawford County Courthouse?

The period of significance for Crawford County Courthouse is recorded as the industrial era.

Can I research the history near Crawford County Courthouse?

Yes. Aubrey Research reports search National Register listings, battlefield records, land patents, and other primary historical sources within any radius of a US address. A report for an address near Crawford County Courthouse will include this listing and all other historical records in the area.

More in Crawford County

Historic places, battles, and census history across Crawford County.

Explore CrawfordCounty ›

More historic places in Georgia

Browse all historic places in Georgia.

View Georgiahistoric sites ›

Conflict records

Explore 19,000+ military engagements across American history.

Browse US conflicts ›

Georgia history

Colonial settlement, territorial period, and statehood narrative.

Georgiahistory ›

Research the history near this site

An Aubrey US report for an address near Crawford County Courthouse will include this listing alongside battlefield records and other historical sources within your chosen radius.

Research your locationView a free sample report