Leon County, Florida
History, Records, Facts and Genealogy

Court Records | Vital Records | CENSUS Records | TAX Records | Military Records | Church & Cemetery |
Maps & Atlases | Genealogy Addresses | Genealogy Related Sites |


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Leon County

Leon County was created by an act of the Legislative Council of Florida on 29 Dec 1824 and was formed from the eastern half of Gadsden County. The County was named for after Juan Ponce de León, Spanish explorer who was the first European to reach Florida. The County Seat is Tallahassee.

The boundaries of Leon County underwent several changes through out the years.  When Wakulla County was created in 1843, the southern boundary of Leon County was changed. The boundary between Leon County and Jefferson County was altered several times (1829, 1831, 1832 and 1881) before it became permanent.  The Clerk of the Circuit Court in each county serves as the official custodian of deed, marriage, and probate records. See also County History for more historical details.

Counties adjacent to Leon County are Gadsden County (west), Jefferson County (east) Liberty County (west).

Leon County Cities and Towns include Tallahassee. CDPs Include Woodville. Communities Include Bradfordville, Centerville, Chaires, Felkel, Iamonia, Meridian, Miccosukee, Ochlockonee, Wadesboro

  • The Leon County Official Government Website
  • Leon County, Florida History Books at Amazon.com
  • Family History Library - The largest collection of free family history, family tree and genealogy records in the world.
  • Search Historical Newspapers from Florida (1823 - 1959) - Quickly find names and keywords in over 450 million articles, obituaries, marriage notices, birth announcements and other items published in over 2,800 historical U.S. newspapers. New content added monthly!
  • Stories, Memories & Histories - Stories and histories compiled by others researching a person or area can be an amazing source of information about your ancestors. Not only do they generally contain dates and places of vital events like birth, marriage, and death, but they often relate stories and memories that help you really get to know the character of your ancestors.
  • Search Florida Historical Records - Databases include Court, Land, Wills & Financial Records; Birth, Marriage & Death Records; Voter Lists & Census Records; Immigration & Emigration Records; Obituary Records; Military Records; Family Tree Records; Pictures; Stories, Memories & Histories; Directories & Member Lists and much more....

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Records at the Leon County Courthouse

See Also Florida Land Records, Marriage Records, Court & Probate Records

Researchers often overlook the importance of court records, probate records, and land records as a source of family history information.

PLEASE READ FIRST!!!! Please call the clerk's department to confirm hours, mailing address, fees and other specifics before visiting or requesting information because of sometimes changing contact information.

The Official County website is located at http://www.co.leon.fl.us. NOTE: The record dates below are from the earliest date to present time. See also Courthouse History

Leon County Clerk of the Circuit Court / County Clerk has Marriage Records from 1825, Land Records from 1825, Probate Records from 1824 and Court Records from 1825 and is located at 301 S. Monroe St. Room #244, P.O. Box 267 Tallahassee, Florida 32302-0726; 850-577-4000, Fax: 850-921-1310
The Clerk of the Circuit Court is also the County Clerk. His office is located in the County Courthouse. The office of the Clerk is created in Article V and Article VIII of the Florida Constitution. The Clerk is an officer of the court of justice whose responsibilities are mandated by the Constitution as well as state and local laws. Under a 1973 reorganization of the judicial system, the clerk of courts in each county was made, and remains, custodian of all records of all predecessor courts, whether justice of the peace, city, county, probate, civil, or criminal.

You may also search the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) which covers Florida and surrounding states. Many pioneers and settelers bought land from the government instead of individuals.

Below is a list of online resources for Leon County Court Records. Email us with websites containing Leon County Court Records by clicking the link below:

  • Order County Court, Civil or Criminal Records Online
  • Leon County, Florida Court Books at Amazon.com
  • Court, Land, Wills & Financial - Court records are an often overlooked, yet very valuable tool for finding information to assist you in your research. Land records, such as deeds, allow you to tie an ancestor to a specific place at a point in time. Other court records like those dealing with finances and estates often list related family members or give interesting details like the total value of property owned by your ancestors to add interest to your family history.
  • Immigration & Emigration - As our ancestors moved from one country to another, details about their lives were recorded on passenger lists and government documents. Immigration and emigration records can help you learn where your ancestors originally came from, where they went, when they left, who they traveled with, and more.
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Leon County Vital Records

See Also Vital Records in Florida

Birth, marriage, and death records are connected with central life events. They are prime sources for genealogical information.

Office of Vital Statistics, Dept of Health, P.O. Box 210, 1217 Pearl Street, Jacksonville, FL 32231-0042; (904) 359-6900 Ext. 1029, Fax: (904) 359-6993.

  • Birth Certificates: has custody of birth records filed from January 1917 to date. Scattered birth records from 1865 through 1916 are also held by the bureau, and some city health departments have some additional scattered records (e.g., Jacksonville, 1893-1913; Pensacola, 1897-1916).
    • Cost: $9.00 for computer certification & $14.00 per photocopy certification (1930 to present), payment is payable to the Office of Vital Statistics. Additional copies of the same record are $4.00 each. If no record is found or no copy is made, state law requires that we keep $9.00/$14.00 for a searching fee. Please do not send cash in the mail.
  • Death Certificates: From 1917 - present. Death records begin about 1877, but the first state law mandating registration of deaths was passed in 1899, and records before 1917 are spotty. It is always well to check with city health departments.
    • Cost: $5.00 per certificate. Additional copies of the same record are $4.00 each. If no record is found or no copy is made, state law requires that we keep $5.00 for a searching fee. Please do not send cash in the mail.
  • Marriage & Divorce Certificates: has custody of marriage, divorce, and annulment records filed after 6 June 1927. For records prior to that date, and there are thousands of them, query the clerk of courts in the county where the license or decree was issued. Numerous divorces and resulting name-changes are to be found in Names and Abstracts from the Acts of the Legislative Council of the Territory of Florida, 1822-1845 (Pass-A-Grille Beach, Fla.: William A. and Janet B. Wolfe, 1985). Copies of marriage license applications are available only from the clerk of courts in the county courthouse. Standard request forms for copies of state-held records are necessary and available as indicated above.
    • Cost: $5.00 per certificate. Additional copies of the same record are $4.00 each. If no record is found or no copy is made, state law requires that we keep $5.00 for a searching fee. Please do not send cash in the mail.
  • Order Online: You can also order Order Electronically Online to obtain a certified copy of a birth, marriage, death or divorce record with a credit or debit card and get the certificates within 2-5 days by ordering from VitalChek Express Certificate Service.
  • Processing Time: Allow 3 to 6 weeks for the search by mail for Birth, Marriage, Divorce or Death Records. MAIL or 2-5 Days when you order ELECTRONICALLY.
  • Order In Person: To order your copy through your local County Health Department Vital Statistics office click here for a list of the 67 County Health Departments. WALK-IN SERVICE is available at 1217 Pearl Street, Jacksonville, Florida, between 8:00 am - 4:30 pm. Orders prepaid by Noonmay be picked up after 3:30 p.m. Orders prepaid after Noon may be picked up after 10:00 a.m. the next workday. Each requestmust be accompanied by picture identification Certifications for photocopies rush service requires an additional fee of $10.
  • Order By Mail:  Turn around is estimated at 3 to 6 weeks from the day the request is received. Mail to the following address: Office of Vital Statistics, Dept of Health, P.O. Box 210, 1217 Pearl Street, Jacksonville, FL 32231-0042. Please include return address on envelope and application form.

Below is a list of online resources for Leon County Vital Records. Email us with websites containing Leon County Vital Records by clicking the link below:

  • VitalChek Express Certificate Service - Some documents are just too important to wait six weeks for. With VitalChek Express Certificate Service you won’t have to. VitalChek is the fast and convenient way to order certified government-issued vital records online. They make it easy for you to purchase the documents to which you are legally entitled. Beware of other online services that do not have relationships directly with the agencies that store your vital records. VitalChek's order process usually takes less than 10 minutes --And you can select express courier service for even faster delivery when time is running out.
  • Click Here to Search the Social Security Death Index for FREEicon - Search over 82 million death records and get genealogical information crucial to your family research. New content added weekly! Most comprehensive SSDI site online!
  • Research Death records In The World's Largest Newspaper Archive at NewpaperArchive.com! - Find thousands of historical Florida newspaper articles about deaths. Search for local articles about an old family friend that died many years ago or a celebrity that committed suicide. Historical newspapers contain a wealth of information about the deceased.
  • Leon County, Florida Birth, Marriage & Death Books at Amazon.com
  • Birth, Marriage & Death - Vital records (births, deaths, marriages, and divorces) mark the milestones of our lives and are the foundation of family history research. Vital records, usually kept by a civic authority, can give you a more complete picture of your ancestor, help you distinguish between two people with the same name, and help you find links to a new generation.
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Leon County Census Records

See Also Research In Census Records & Statewide Records that exist for Florida

Few, if any, records reveal as many details about individuals and families as do government census records. Substitute records can be used when the official census is unavailable

Countywide Records: Federal Population Schedules that exist for Leon County, Florida are 1830, 1840, 1850 ,1860 ,1870, 1880, 1890 (fragment, see below), 1900, 1910, 1920 and 1930. Other Federal Schedules to look at when researching your Family Tree in Leon County, Florida are Industry and Agriculture Schedules availible for the years 1850, 1860, 1870 and 1880. Slave Schedules exist for 1850 & 1860. The Mortality Schedules for the years 1850, 1860, 1870 and 1880. There are free downloadable and printable Census forms to help with your research. These include U.S. Census Extraction Forms and U.K. Census Extraction Forms.

Below is a list of online resources for Leon County Census Records. Email us with websites containing Leon County Census Records by clicking the link below:

  • Florida Census, 1820-90: This collection contains the following indexes: 1820 Census Index (Pensacola and Escambia River Areas); 1825 Leon County Census Index; 1830 Federal Census Index; 1840 Federal Census Index; 1840 Pensioners List; 1850 Federal Census Index; 1850 Slave Schedule; 1860 Federal Census Index; 1860 Slave Schedule; 1870 Federal Census Index; 1890 Veterans Schedule; 1890 Naval Veterans Schedule; Early Census Index, Vol. 1-2.
  • Florida State Census, 1885: This database is an index with corresponding images of the 1885 Florida State Census
  • Leon County, Florida Census Books at Amazon.com
  • Census & Voter Lists - A census is an official list of the people in a particular area at a given time, while voter lists show those who were registered to vote in a certain area. The valuable information found on census records helps you to understand your family in their time and place. Voter Lists serve as a confirmation of residence in between the years that the census was taken.
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Leon County Maps & Atlases

See Also Research In State Map Collections

Maps are an excellent source for beginning your research, because they provide much useful information at a glance. Many historic maps show individual buildings and are especially useful because they also record owners' names and features in the surrounding community. More detailed maps reveal property acreage and estate names. By examining a series of maps, you will be able to date changes in your property over time.

Genealogy Atlas has images of old American atlases during the years 1795, 1814, 1822, 1823, 1836, 1838, 1845, 1856, 1866, 1879 and 1897 for Ohio and other states.

You can view rotating animated maps for Florida showing all the county boundaries for each census year overlayed with past and present maps so you can see the changes in county boundaries. You can view a list of maps for other states at Census Maps

You can view rotating animated maps for Florida showing all the county boundary changes for each year overlayed with past and present maps so you can see the changes in county boundaries. The Florida Department of Transportation has county maps the show the locations of churches, cemeteries, roads, ect... free for viewing or download here

Below is a list of online resources for Leon County Maps. Email us with websites containing Leon County Maps by clicking the link below:

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Leon County Military Records

See Also Military Records in Florida

Military and civil service records provide unique facts and insights into the lives of men and women who have served their country at home and abroad.

The uses and value of military records in genealogical research for ancestors who were veterans are obvious, but military records can also be important to re-searchers whose direct ancestors were not soldiers in any war. The fathers, grandfathers, brothers, and other close relatives of an ancestor may have served in a war, and their service or pension records could contain information that will assist in further identifying the family of primary interest. Due to the amount of genealogical information contained in some military pension files, they should never be overlooked during the research process. Those records not containing specific genealogical information are of historic value and should be included in any overall research design.

Below is a list of online resources for Leon County Military Records. Email us with websites containing Leon County Military Records by clicking the link below:

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Leon County Tax Records

See Also Research In Tax Records

Early tax rolls, especially between census years, can be a gold mine for the fortunate researcher. Most existing rolls can be found in the counties of origin, but the Flordia State Archives also has some bound volumes sent to the state comptroller during the period 1829-81. Normal information includes the taxpayer's name, land ownership, number of white males (above taxable age, 21) and slaves, horses, wagons, and other taxable items of personal property such as jewelry, watches, musical instruments, and carriages. Many of the counties' records in the series are incomplete, but there are some in the Florida State Archives that the originating counties no longer have. This valuable resource is not indexed. It must be searched in the county, at the Florida State Archives, or both.

Below is a list of online resources for Leon County Tax Records. Email us with websites containing Leon County Tax Records by clicking the link below:

  • Leon County, Florida Tax Books at Amazon.com
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Leon County Genealogical Addresses

See Also Other Florida Genealogical Addresses

The Repositories in this section are Archives, Libraries, Museums, Genealogical and Historical Societies. Many County Historical and Genealogical Societies publish magazines and/or news letters on a monthly, quarterly, bi-annual or annual basis. Contacting the local societies should not be over looked. State Archives and Societies are usually much larger and better organized with much larger archived materials than their smaller county cousins but they can be more generalized and over look the smaller details that local societies tend to have. Libraries can also be a good place to look for local information. Some libraries have a genealogy section and may have some resources that are not located at archives or societies. Also, take a special look at any museums in the area. They sometimes have photos and items from years gone by as well as information of a genealogical interest. All these places are vitally important to the family genealogist and must not be passed over.

Below is a list of online resources for Leon County Genealogical Addresses. Email us with websites containing Leon County Genealogical Addresses by clicking the link below:

  • Tallahassee Trust for Historic Preservation, Inc., 423 East Virginia Street, Tallahassee, FL 32301; (850) 488-7100
  • Tallahassee Genealogical Society, P. O. Box 4371, Tallahassee, FL 32315-4371
  • Florida Heritage Foundation, P. O. Box 793, Tallahassee, FL 32302
  • Florida Black Archives, Research Center and Museum, Florida A&M University, Tallahassee, FL 32307; (850) 599-3020
  • Florida Dept of State Div of Library & Information Services, Bureau of Archives & Records Management, 500 S. Bronough St., Tallahassee, FL 32399-0250; (850)245-6700, [EMAIL]
  • Florida Historical Society 1320 Highland Ave, Melbourne, FL 32935; (321) 254-9855,[EMAIL]
  • Florida State Genealogical Society, PO Box 10249, Tallahassee, FL 32302-2249
  • Florida State Library, R.A. Gray Building, 500 South Bronough Street, Tallahassee, FL 32399-0250, (850)245-6600; Hours: Mon.- Fri. 9:00am - 4:30pm, Sat. 9:30am - 3:30pm
  • Florida State Records Center, 4319 Shelfer Road, Tallahassee, FL 32399-0250; (850)245-6750; Hours: By Appointment Only
  • Newspapers & Periodicals - The Newspapers & Periodicals Collection lets you discover a wealth of information about your ancestors from many historical newspapers, magazines, and other periodicals. These types of sources can often supplement public records and provide information that is not recorded anywhere else. Here, you can learn more about your ancestor's possible daily activities by placing them in the context of their time.
  • Directories & Member Lists - Directories and member lists are typically compilations of information about people who belonged to various associations and groups or lived within city boundaries. They can be thought of as the predecessors to the modern-day phone book and usually list names, addresses, and sometimes the occupations of your ancestors.
  • Florida Genealogical Society Books at Amazon.com
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Leon County Church & Cemeteries

See Also Church & Cemetery Records in Florida

Obituaries can vary in the amount of information they contain, but many of them are genealogical goldmines, including information such as names, dates, places of birth and death, marriage information, and family relationships.

There are many churches and cemeteries in Leon County. Some transcriptions are online. A great site is the Leon County Tombstone Transcription Project.

As in most former frontier societies, early Florida church records are hit-and-miss, but they can be valuable when located. The Roman Catholic faith accompanied the earliest Spanish settlers to Florida, and by 1822 the Baptists, Methodists, Episcopalians, and Presbyterians were also active in the new territory. By 1845 the Baptists had split into the Missionary and Primitive varieties (probably totaling more than 5,000 Florida members), and all of the above groups had become more or less well organized Methodists had two churches in Fernandina as early as 1822 (under the South Carolina Conference) and more than 10,000 members by statehood.

Cemetery records are held by most Florida libraries and archives. One important compiled source is the WPA Register of Deceased Veterans Buried in Florida, which covers fifty-one of the sixty-seven counties. Access to the massive amount of cemetery information scattered throughout the state is being facilitated by a continuing cemetery location project of the Florida State Genealogical Society.

Below is a list of online resources for Leon County Cemetery & Church Records. Email us with websites containing Leon County Cemetery & Church Records by clicking the link below:

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Family Trees & Genealogy Tidbits

 

The use of published genealogies, electronic files containing genealogical lineage, and other compiled sources can be of tremendous value to a researcher.

When view family trees online or not, be sure to only take the info at face value and always follow up with your own sources or verify the ones they provide. Below is a list of online resources for Leon County Family Trees, web forums and other family type information. Email us with websites containing Leon County Family Trees, web forums and other family type information by clicking the link below:

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Extended History

 

Spanish Rule

Pánfilo de Narváez and his followers first passed south of Leon County in 1528. In 1539, Hernando de Soto stayed 5 months at the Apalachee Indian capitol of Anhaica bringing priests with him. The first Christmas in the New World was celebrated in the woods near the present capitol building.

As more Spanish colonists arrived, they brought disease and fighting. This reduced the population of the Apalachee tribe who left the area for points west. In 1656, a Spanish deputy governor and his crew settled in the Apalachee town that they called Mission San Luis de Apalachee in west Tallahassee. With a population of more than 1400, the Spanish established one of several Franciscan missions there. While there, the Spaniards lived off the generosity of the Apalachee. At the same time, they tried to convert the Apalachee to the Catholic faith.

British Rule

Beginning in 1700, the English looked upon Florida and its Spanish missions as getting too close to the English colonies. Raids began from South Carolina led by Governor James Moore and assisted on occasion Creek Indians raided and destroyed the Spanish mission chain, including San Luis in 1704.

Tens of thousands of Apalachee Indians were carried off into slavery by Governor Moore, never to be heard from again. The Apalachee had adapted Spanish culture so well that when San Luis was burned, one could not separate the Apalachee bodies apart from the Spanish. The English brought with them Yamassee Indian allies from South Carolina, but 10 years later the English chased them out, so the Yamassee moved to St. Augustine and allied themselves with the Spanish. By 1705 the raids were over and the Seminole Indians developed their "fowl towns," a name derived from the raising of chickens.

Second Spanish Rule

In 1795 what is now Leon County along with the rest of Florida fell back under the rule of Spain. Over the years there were attacks on Indian towns in Florida by settlers in Georgia and in return indians attacked settlers in Georgia prompting the 1817-1818 campaign by the United States Army and Andrew Jackson known as the First Seminole War. In 1818, Jackson invaded the small village of Miccosukee in what is now northeastern Leon County.

Territorial Florida

In 1821, Florida became a territory of the United States. Both St. Augustine and Pensacola competed to become the capital city. Legislators alternated sessions. Travel was hazardous and took almost twenty days.

General Andrew Jackson served as military governor of the newly acquired territory and appointed two commissioners to find a suitable new location for the state capitol. One rode on horseback from St. Augustine and the other sailed by boat from Pensacola. They met at the port of St. Marks, Florida about 20 miles south of Tallahassee, halfway between St. Augustine and Pensacola. They discovered a place north of St. Marks. They reported,

“A more beautiful country can scarcely be managed; it is high, rolling, and well watered, the richness of the soil renders it perfectly adapted to farming."

On March 30, 1822, the United States merged East Florida and part of West Florida into the Florida Territory. Originally part of Escambia and later Gadsden County, Leon County was created in 1824. It was named for the Juan Ponce de León, Spanish explorer who was the first European to reach Florida.

Territorial Governors from Leon County

* Richard Keith Call served from 1836-1839 and 1841-1844. Though not a native, Call came to Florida in 1814 and was a land owner in Leon County as early as the 1820s. He established Orchard Pond Plantation and The Grove Plantation.
* John Branch served from 1844-1845. Also not a native, Branch moved to Leon County in the 1830s purchasing land on which he would establish Live Oak Plantation.

The Plantations of Leon County

Leon County in the 1820s-1830s became a destination for a number of northern planters. Besides the aforementioned R.K. Call and John Branch, names such as Francis W. Eppes, William Bailey, the Chaires brothers, the Bradford brothers, George T. Ward, and many others began large cotton plantations in Leon County.

Second Seminole War

The Second Seminole War of 1835-1842 touched Leon County as it would most of Florida when family members and slaves of Green A. Chaires were massacred on his first plantation on Lake Lafayette.

In 1837, the Tallahassee-St. Marks Railroad was completed linking Tallahassee to the Gulf port of St. Marks to the south.

Forts of Leon County

During the Seminole Wars, 5 forts were constructed for the protection of settlers.

  • 1839-1842 - Fort Virginia Braden was named after the commander's wife who died of yellow fever. Fort Braden was located at Ft. Braden on the Ochlockonee River.
  • 1840 - Fort Harriett near the head of the Sopchoppy River, 17 miles northwest of St. Marks.
  • 1839-1842 - Fort Macomb or Fort Number One M was located 10 miles north of St. Marks.
  • 1839 - Fort Number Two (M) was located on the St. Marks River just south of the unincorporated area of Rose, Florida.
  • 1839 - Fort St. Augustine was located 9 miles northeast of Fort Macomb.

Early Statehood

On March 3, 1845, Florida joined the Union as the 27th state and Leon County became the capital county of Florida.

Antebellum

During the 1850s-1860s, Leon County was a "cotton kingdom" and ranked 5th out of all of Florida and Georgia counties in the production of cotton from the 20 major plantations growing 200 bales or more.

The Civil War and Reconstruction

Florida seceded from the Union January 10, 1861 and took its place with the Confederacy. Leon County sent many of its men into battle as far north as Gettysburg.

The only battle of the Civil War within Leon County took place on March 16, 1865 at the Battle of Natural Bridge with the small Confederate forces of around 1000 men including students from the West Florida Seminary (to be Florida State University) under Sam Jones going up against John Newton and his 2nd and 99th U.S. Colored Infantry units.

The 1880s and 1890s

Leon County resident and cotton plantation owner William D. Bloxham served as Governor from 1881-1885 and took office again from 1897-1901.

The Carrabelle, Tallahassee and Georgia Railroad

The Carrabelle, Tallahassee and Georgia Railroad began service during the 1880s with service from the Gulf coast to southern Georgia.

Courthouse History

Levy County, created in 1845, honors Florida’s first United States Senator and the first person of Jewish ancestry to sit in that body. The Senator is more commonly known as David Levy Yulee, the surname reflecting a grandfather (Eliahu Ha-Levi Ibn-Yuli) who served as a courtier to the Sultan of Morocco. Yulee’s father, a dedicated abolitionist who used the name Moses Levy, acquired vast acreage from the Arredondo Grant in north central Florida, reportedly with the idea of establishing a colony for Europe's persecuted Jews. Senator Yulee was instrumental in constructing one of the state’s first railroads, with one terminus at Cedar Key in the present Levy County.  Remains of his sugar mill may still be seen at Homossassa in neighboring Citrus COunty.   

  For the first five years of the county’s existence residents attended court in Newnansville, Alachua County. The original county seat of Levy County is described in one source as "Waccassassa," although another, published in Levy County, gives it as Levyville. Apparently this was something of a disreputable place, since the neighborhood surrounding the courthouse was locally known as "Sodom". This fact so vexed the county commission that, in 1854, they specifically decreed the area was to be called "Mount Pleasant" and not Sodom. The first meetings of county government took place in a house rented from P. H. Davis. In 1851 a proposal was made to build a courthouse, with its dimensions specified at 20 by 30 feet. However, this apparently did not come to fruition, for in 1852 the county rented the house of Elijah Hunter for one dollar, then purchased that of Moses Cason the following year for $175. In 1858 the public square of Levyville was cleared of timber, presumably for construction of a more suitable facility, and in 1861 bids were called for a two-story courthouse. The Civil War intervened and construction was not completed until 1866-7.

  The Levyville courthouse was begun by James M. Janney and completed by L. B. Lewis, but was in use for only a short time. Following an unsuccessful suit to restrain the move, it was sold to a masonic lodge and the county seat was moved to Bronson, originally "Chunky Pond," in 1874. The name honors an early settler. Little remains of Levyville today, although it is still denoted on some maps and by a highway sign near Chiefland. Lawyer W. E. Coulter donated the land for the first Bronson courthouse, which was built in 1874; a privy was added in 1877. It was replaced in 1906 by a structure modeled after that in Starke (Bradford County) , built by Wagener and Dobson of Montgomery at a cost of $15,000.This was replaced in 1937 by the current courthouse, designed by Henry L. Taylor and built by O. R. Woodcock, incorporating some materials from the 1906 building. In more recent years an annex has been added.

  A separate Bloxham County, named after governor William D. Bloxham and centered around the town of Williston, is found on some old maps. However, this proposal was defeated by a referendum in 1915.

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