Hancock County is named for John Hancock, who was a signer of the Declaration of Independence and who lived from 1737 to 1793.
Surrounding County and Parish Courthouses:
E – Harrison County
S – Saint Bernard Parish, Louisiana
W – Saint Tammany Parish, Louisiana and Pearl River County
Created: December 12, 1812
County Seat:
Caesar 1812 – 1837
Gainesville 1837 – 1867
Bay Saint Louis 1867 – present
County Courthouse – Bay Saint Louis
Location: 152 Main Street / Gex Street
Built: 1911 – 1912
Style: Greek Revival
Architect: Keenan & Weiss
Contractor: Jett Brothers Construction Company
Description: The building faces north and is a two story buff and gray-white colored brick, stone and concrete structure. The building is located on landscaped grounds in the center of Bay Saint Louis. The north front has a large porch with six large columns rising to a wide header at the roof line. The main section of the building extends east and west. The roof line is flat. The building houses the County Circuit Court of the 2nd Judicial District and County Chancery Court. An addition was constructed in 1920. The building was damage by Hurricane Katrina in 2005, and In 2009, the building was renovated and an addition was constructed. The architect was Pryor & Morrow and the contractor was Witherington Construction Corporation.
County Justice Court – Bayside Park

Location: 8450 US Highway 90 / Oak Street
Built: 2011 – 2012
Style: Modern
Architect: Perez, HBSA11 and DLR Group
Contractor: White Construction
Description: The building faces south and is a one story gray colored concrete structure. The building is located on landscaped grounds to the west of the center of Bay Saint Louis. The building has a center courtyard with four high pillars and the Justice Center located on the west side. The roof line is flat. The building is named as the Hancock County Public Safety Complex. The building houses the County Justice Court.
Note: The cost of construction was .$23,031,000.
County Youth Court – Bay Saint Louis

Location: 126 Court Street / Cue Street
Built: Unknown
Style: Modern
Architect: Unknown
Contractor: Unknown
Description: The building faces north and is a one story light red colored brick and concrete structure. The building is located on landscaped grounds in the center of Bay Saint Louis on the south side of the courthouse. The entrance is located at the center of the north front. The roof is hipped. The building houses the County Youth Court.
History: The county was created in 1812 and Ceasar (Center) was selected as the county seat. The first courthouse was a log structure built in 1817. In 1837, the courthouse was moved to Gainesville. The courthouse was destroyed by fire in 1853. The court met in various buildings and in various buildings in Bay Saint Louis after 1857. The county seat was moved officially to Bay Saint Louis (Shieldsborough) in 1867 and the second courthouse was the City Hall where the court occupied the first story and the basement. The third courthouse was a two story wood structure was built in 1874 at a cost of $6,000. The fourth and present courthouse was constructed in 1911 to 1912 at a cost of $25,000.
County Government Annex – Bay Saint Louis

Location: 854 US Highway 90 / Drinkwater Road
Built: 2009 – 2010
Style: Modern
Architect: Pryor Morrow
Contractor: D C General Contractor and Gouras and Associates.
Description: The building faces north and is a two story red colored brick and white colored concrete structure. The building is located on landscaped grounds to the west of the center of Bay Saint Louis. The building is “V: shaped with an octagonal tower rising three stories at the junction of the two wings. The roof is hipped.

County Courthouse – Bay Saint Louis









County Courthouse Addition – Bay Saint Louis





County Justice Court – Bayside Park





County Youth Court – Bay Saint Louis


County Government Annex – Bay Saint Louis




Photos taken 2017 and 2019