Cortland County is named for Pierre Van Cortlandt, who was the first Lieutenant Governor of New York.
Surrounding County Courthouses:
N – Onondaga County
E – Madison County and Chenango County
S – Broome County and Tioga County
W – Tompkins County and Cayuga County
Created: April 8, 1808 
County Seat:
Cortland 1808 – present
County Courthouse – Cortland
Location: 25 Court Street / Greenbush Street
Built: 1924 – 1926
Style: Classical Revival
Architect: James Riely Gordon
Contractor: A E Stephens Corporation.
Description: The building faces north and is a three story gray colored limestone structure. The building is located on spacious landscaped grounds in the center of Cortland and forms a “T” shape or Latin cross. The north front has a projecting center section with three rectangular entrances on the first story, and there are six columns on the second and third stories with recessed windows. On the center of the roof is a large round cupola. The cupola rests on a balustraded octagonal base above which are twenty four Corinthian columns. At the top is a dome with copper roof and small cupola at the top with Statue of Justice. The interior has a rotunda under the dome with coffered ceiling of plaster with a stained glass skylight. There is marble wainscoting.
History: The county was created in 1808 and Cortland was designated as the county seat. The first courthouse was erected on the side of hill. The second courthouse was a two story red colored brick structure built in 1836 to 1838 and was remodeled in 1884. The courthouse was destroyed by fire in 1924. The third courthouse was constructed in 1924 to 1926.
County Administration – Cortland
Location: 60 Central Avenue / Greenbush Street
Built: 1892 – 1893
Style: Schoolhouse
Architect: Unknown
Contractor: Unknown
Description: The building faces south and is a three story red colored brick structure. The building is located on spacious landscaped grounds in the center of Cortland to the north of the courthouse. The building was built as the Cortland Central School. The south front has a slightly projecting center section with four vertical pilasters and a central entrance on the first story. At the roof line is a pediment. On the east and west sides the building slightly projects with pediments at the roof line. On the center of the roof is a small white colored open cupola with gold colored dome. The building was expanded in 1923 to 1924. The building became the Cortland County Office Building in 1950.
County Courthouse – Cortland
County Administration – Cortland
Photos taken 2010