Benton County

US States / M / Mississippi / Benton County
1001M12

Benton County is named for Samuel Benton, who was a general in the Confederate Army.

 

Surrounding County Courthouses: 

N – Hardeman County, Tennessee

E – Tippah County

S – Union County

W – Marshall County

 

Created:  July 21, 1870                                                              Map of Mississippi highlighting Benton County

County Seat: 

Ashland  1870 – present

 

Old County Courthouse – Ashland 

 

Location:  61 Main Street / Ripley Avenue

Built:  1872 – 1873

Style:  Greek Revival

Architect:  George Wilson Patrick Sr. of Booneville

Contractor:  Patrick & Price

 

Description:  The building faces east and is a two story white colored brick and wood structure. The building is located on the landscaped grounds of Courthouse Square in the center of Ashland. The east front has a high central portico with two tall columns rising to a pediment at the roof line. There is a small balcony above the first story entrance, There is a similar portico on the west side. The center section of the building projects slightly. On the center of the roof is an octagonal wood cupola with a dome at the top. The roof is hipped.  Additions were added in 1948 and 1970. The building now houses the Benton County Historical Society.

 

County Courthouse – Ashland 

 

0989m12

 

Location:  190 Ripley Avenue / Boundary Drive

Built:  Unknown

Style:  Industrial

Architect:  Unknown

Contractor:  Unknown

 

Description:  The building faces north and is a one story white-yellow colored brick and concrete structure. The building is located on the west edge of the center of Ashland and was formerly the ABC Shirt and Dress factory. The north front has the main entrance on the east end where the building projects and is lower in height than the main building. A curved canopy runs along the roof line and continued west along the main part of the building. The building has small windows and a flat roof, and was converted into the courthouse in 2002. In the interior, on the west side is the large County Circuit Court courtroom and on the south side is the County Justice Court courtroom. The building houses the County Circuit Court of the 3rd Judicial District, County Chancery Court and County Justice Court. During the renovation, the construction supervisor was Thomas Daniel.

 

History:  The county was created in 1870 and Ashland was selected as the county seat. The first courthouse was constructed in 1872 to 1873 and is still standing. The second and present courthouse is a converted garment factory in 2002.

 

 

0995m12

Old County Courthouse – Ashland

 

 

0997m12

 

 

0998m12

                          

                       

0999m12

 

 

816t18

 

 

1002m12

 

 

0986m12

County Courthouse – Ashland

 

 

0992m12

 

 

0987m12

 

 

0988m12

 

 

0990m12

 

 

0993m12

 

 

806t18n

County Circuit Court courtroom

 

 

807t18

 

 

808t18

 

 

809t18

 

 

810t18

 

 

811t18

 

 

798t18

 

 

799t18

County Justice Court courtroom

 

 

800t18

 

 

801t18

 

 

802t18

 

 

803t18

 

 

804t18

 

 

805t18

 

 

812t18

Photos taken 2012 and 2018