Colquitt Town Square Historic District

Downtown Colquitt, in Miller County, Georgia, is a compact commercial district of roughly 16 acres arranged around the courthouse square. Most buildings are one-story masonry storefronts from the early 20th century, with a few two-story examples, sharing party walls and a common setback along three sides of the square. Brick is the main material, used for walls, piers, pilasters, arches, string courses and corbelled cornices, along with cast-iron storefront columns, pressed metal, wood and concrete block. The area was rebuilt after a fire in 1902 that destroyed the earlier downtown, and local versions of Victorian Eclectic and Commercial styles are well represented. Uniform scale, consistent materials and compatible ornamentation give the district a distinct downtown character. It was the center of daily commerce for the town and surrounding farmland, including wholesaling, retailing, banking, professional services, hotel lodging and entertainment. Two early gas stations reflect the arrival of the automobile. The present courthouse dates from the 1970s.