Walton County Jail
Why it's listed
Built in 1884-1885 at 203 Milledge Avenue in Monroe, the Walton County Jail is a two-story brick building with a metal standing-seam roof. Contractor M.B. McGinty won the $8,850 contract when the county, then building a new courthouse, chose to place the jail away from the courthouse square. Earlier jails, a log structure from 1821 and a more permanent one from 1833-1834, had stood near the courthouse. Romanesque in style, the building has extensive brick detailing at the eaves, a projecting center gable, arched four-over-four windows and an enclosed front porch. One-story additions stand at the rear and south side, and the building was altered in the early 1900s and again in 1953. Its interior layout is typical of late nineteenth-century jails. The nomination treats it as a local example of small Georgia jail design of the 1880s and 1890s and as a symbol of local government's role in keeping the peace. It has served as the county jail since construction.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues it is a local example of small jail architecture of the late 1800s, with Romanesque details and a layout typical of Georgia jails of the 1880s and 1890s. It also represents local government's role as peacekeeper, since counties built jails about as often as courthouses.
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 83003624, listed December 28, 1983. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 203 Milledge Ave., Monroe |
|---|---|
| County | Walton County |
| Listed | December 28, 1983 |
| Reference number | 83003624 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | M.B. McGinty |
| Architectural style | Romanesque |
| Areas of significance | Politics/Government, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Still in use as the county jail; described as in fair condition, with a rear addition from the early 1900s and alterations in 1953. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 33.79374, -83.70916 (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 83003624.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q134466096
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.