Fayette County Courthouse
Why it's listed
Fayette County's courthouse in Fayetteville was built in 1825 by Finley G. Stewart at a cost of $3,399. It is described as the oldest courthouse in Georgia still serving its original purpose. The brick building now has gray stucco over its exterior and a hipped roof with a bracketed cornice. Side elevations have central gabled dormers with paired windows. In 1888 a clock tower was added, designed by Bruce & Morgan and built by contractor James Smith. It has a curved mansard roof, with clock faces set in gabled dormers, and a clock was installed in 1909. A 1965 remodeling, costing $70,000, added a mezzanine floor and a new basement, so the building now has three stories. Acoustical tile and paneling added inside have damaged the interior's architectural integrity. The courthouse sits alone on a one-and-a-half-acre square surrounded by roads, in the center of town among shade trees. Its exterior and this setting are the main reasons it was recognized.
Significance in brief: The nomination calls it the oldest courthouse in Georgia still in its original use. Its exterior and its setting in the center of town on a tree-shaded square are cited as the features that make it significant.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 80001020, listed September 18, 1980. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | GA 85, Fayetteville |
|---|---|
| County | Fayette County |
| Listed | September 18, 1980 |
| Reference number | 80001020 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | Finley G. Stewart (original); Bruce & Morgan, architects, and James Smith, contractor (1888 clock tower) |
| Architectural style | Carpenter Style with Second Empire Clock Tower |
| Areas of significance | Economics, Law, Politics/Government, Architecture, Communications |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Condition listed as good; remodeled in 1965, and a letter describes it as still in use as a municipal building. |
| Acreage | 1.5 |
| Coordinates | 33.44821, -84.45461 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For a publicly owned building or structure, listing mainly matters when federal funds, permits or licences are involved: projects then go through Section 106 review so effects on the property are considered. Listing also strengthens applications for preservation grants and, for leased income-producing uses, can enable the federal rehabilitation tax credit.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 80001020.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q29649434
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.