Hancock County | US Courthouses

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:

N – Pearl River County

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.