Effingham County is named for Lord Effingham, who was a general in the British army and who resigned his commission in 1775 refusing to serve in the war against the colonies.
Surrounding County Courthouses:
N – Shelby County and Cumberland County
E – Cumberland County and Jasper County
S – Clay County and Fayette County
W – Fayette County
Created: February 15, 1831 
County Seat:
Ewington 1833 – 1860
Effingham 1860 – present
County Government Center – Effingham
Location: 120 West Jefferson Avenue / North 5th Street
Built: 2005 – 2007
Style: Modern
Architect: Durrant Group Inc. of Dubuque, Iowa
Contractor: Grunloh Construction of Effingham
Description: The building faces southwest and is a three story buff and red colored stone, glass and concrete structure. The rectangular shaped building is located in the center of Effingham to the west of the County Office Building and the old courthouse. The southwest corner of the building has a high glass and stone tower with the entrance lobby on the first story. On the south side the windows form vertical panels with stone pillars supporting the overhang on the first story. The west side has the same pillars but few windows. The east side has course buff colored stone. The roof line is flat. In the interior, there are two courtrooms on the second story and two courtrooms on the third story. The building houses the County Circuit Court of the 4th Judicial Circuit. The building is called the Effingham County Government Center and is connected to the County Office Building on the east side.
Old County Courthouse – Effingham
Location: 101 North 4th Street / West Jefferson Avenue
Built: 1871 – 1872
Style: Second Empire
Architect: W E Grey
Contractor: William Brown
Description: The building faces south and is a two story red colored brick, wood and stone structure. The building is located on spacious landscaped grounds in the center of Effingham. The south front has a small white colored wood portico. The tall windows of the building are arched and trimmed with stone. The corners of the building are also trimmed with stone. There is a mansard roof which is corbeled and has dormer windows. On the center of the roof is a square wood clock tower with flat roof. The former courtroom was located on the second story. In 1913, the clock tower was remodeled. The building is now the Effingham County Culture Center.
See: National Register of Hiostoric Places – Effingham County Courthouse
See: The 4th Judicial District includes Christian County, Clay County, Clinton County, Fayette County, Jasper County, Marion County, Montgomery County and Shelby County.
History: The county was created in 1831 and Ewington was selected as the county seat in 1833. The first courthouse was built in 1833. The second courthouse was built by by Edward Cole and John Smith in 1844. The county seat was moved to Effingham in 1860. The third courthouse was a two story brick structure built in 1861. The courthouse was destroyed by fire on March 17, 1869. The fourth and present courthouse was constructed in 1871 to 1872 at a cost of $30,000. The County Government Center was constructed in 2005 to 2007 at a cost of $10,000,000.
County Office Building – Effingham
Location: 101 North 4th St / West Jefferson Avenue
Built: 1921 – 1923
Style: Modern
Architect: H R Temple
Contractor: Unknown
Description: The building faces east and is a four story brown colored brick and concrete structure. The building is located in the center of Effingham to the west of the courthouse. The building is square shaped with a central entrance on the east side. Brown colored brick pilasters dived the window groups. Horizontal stone belts decorate the exterior. The roof line is flat. On the north side is a one story section. The building is connected to the County Government Center on the west side.
County Government Center – Effingham
Old County Courthouse – Effingham
County Office Building – Effingham
Photos taken 2008