Brunswick County is named for the colonial port of Brunswick which is now in ruins which town was named for the Duchy of Brunswick-Luneburg at the time held by the British Kings of the House of Hanover.
Surrounding County Courthouses:
N – Pender County and New Hanover County
S – Atlantic Ocean and Horry County, South Carolina
W – Columbus County
Created: January 30, 1764 
County Seat:
Brunswick 1764 – 1779
Lockwood Folly River 1779 – 1808
Southport 1808 – 1978
Bolivia 1978 – present
County Courthouse – Bolivia
Location: 310 Government Center Drive / Old Ocean Highway East
Built: 2000 – 2001
Style: Modern
Architect: Freeman White Inc. and Ware Bonsall Architects
Contractor: Barnhill Contracting Company
Description: The building faces northeast and is a three story structural steel, concrete and stone structure. The building is located on spacious landscaped grounds to the south of the center of Bolvia and is part of the County Government Complex developed in 1878. The northeast front has a large portico supported by four large columns rising to a wide header above the recessed third story. The outside third story windows have small balconies. The base of the building is polished stone. The interior has a grand staircase rising to the second story and five courtrooms. The building houses the County Superior Court and County District Court of the 13th Judicial District. The building is to be expanded in 2019 to 2020. The architect is Sawyer Sherwood & Associate Architecture and the contractor is Barnhill Contracting Company.
Old County Courthouse – Southport
Location: 201 East Moore Street / Davis Street
Built: 1844 – 1845
Style: Greek Revival
Architect: A J Robbins
Contractor: W D Morrel
Description: The building faces south and is a two story stone and cream colored stucco structure. The building is located on landscaped grounds in the center of Southport. On the south front is a one story brick portico. The entrance door has a fan-light above. The roof is hipped and has an open bell tower. . In the interior, there is a corridor dividing the first story. The former courtroom is located on the second story. The building serves as the Southport City Hall. The building was remodeled in 1922. To the northeast is the old two story red colored brick jail built in 1904.
See: National Register of Historic Places – Brunswick County Courthouse
See: The 13th Judicial District includes Bladen County and Columbus County.
History: The county was created in 1764 and Brunswick was selected as the county seat. The first courthouse was erected in 1764. The county seat was moved to Lockwood Folly River in 1779 and then moved to Southport (Smithfield) in 1808. The second courthouse, a wood on brick structure, was built in 1809. The third courthouse was built in 1842 to 1844 and is still standing. The county seat was moved to Bolivia in 1978 and the County Government Complex was constructed. The third and present courthouse was constructed in Bolivia in 2000 to 2001.
County Courthouse – Bolivia
Old County Courthouse – Southport
Old County Jail – Southport
Photos taken 2008