Cape Girardeau County is named for Sieur de Girardot, who was a French officer and an early explorer of the region.
Surrounding County Courthouses:
N – Perry County
E – Union County, Illinois and Alexander County, Illinois
S – Scott County
W – Bollinger County
Created: October 1, 1812 
County Seat:
Jackson 1812 – present
County Courthouse – Jackson
Location: 100 Court Street / West Main Street
Built: 1906 – 1908
Style: Beaux Arts
Architect: Patrick Henry Weathers of Jackson, Mississippi
Contractor: M T Lewman and Company of Louisville, Kentucky
Description: The building faces south and is a three story stone structure. The building is 81 feet by 108 feet. The south front has a large porch with two high columns and recessed entrance. There is a pediment at the roof line. A wide cornice runs below the roof line. On the center of the roof is a large square dome with clock and green roof.
See: The architect, Patrick Henry Weathers of Jackson, Mississippi, designed courthouses in Louisiana in Tensas Parish; in Mississippi in Lamar County, Lee County and Marion County; in Missouri in Daviess County and Stoddart County; and in Oklahoma in Ellis County, Logan County and Washington County.
County Administration Building – Jackson
Location: 1 Barton Square / Washington Street
Built: 1985 – 1986
Style: Modern
Architect: Phillips / Dudley / Associates Inc.
Contractor: Walter Brockmiller, Inc. of Farmington
Description: The building faces west and is a two story concrete structure. The building has a hipped roof.
Cape Girardeau Court House – Cape Girardeau
Location: 44 North Lorimer Street / Themis Street
Built: 1854
Style: Classical Revival
Architect: Joseph Lansman of Cape Girardeau
Contractor: Joseph Lansman of Cape Girardeau
Description: The building faces east and is a two story red colored brick and wood structure. The building sits on a high bluff oveerlooking the Mississippi River. The east front has a large portico supported by four white columns rising to a pediment at the roof line. On the center of the roof is a square wood cupola. The foundation is limestone. The building houses the Cape Girardeau Court of Common Pleas. In 1888, the building was remodeled with two wings and a cupola added. The architect was Jerome B Legg of St. Louis. In 1959 a thirty foot annex was constructed on the west side of the building. The architect was John Boardman of Cape Girardeau.
See: National Register of Historic Places – Cape Giradeau Court of Common Pleas
See: The 32nd Judicial Circuit includes Bollinger County, Cape Giradeau County and Perry County.
County Courthouse – Jackson
Photos taken 2009