Mitchell County is named for Elisha Mitchell, who was a professor at the University of North Carolina and who measured the height of Mount Mitchell.
Surrounding County Courthouses:
N – Unicoi County, Tennessee and Carter County, Tennessee
E – Avery County
S – McDowell County
W – Yancey County
Created: February 16, 1861 
County Seat:
Calhoun 1861 – 1866
Davis 1866 – 1868
Bakersville 1868 – present
County Courthouse – Bakersville
Location: 328 Longview Drive / Highway 261
Built: 1998 – 2000
Style: Modern Colonial Revival
Architect: Besson, Lusk & Street Inc. of Johnson City, Tennessee
Contractor: Crossley Construction
Description: The building faces southeast and is a two story red colored brick and concrete structure. The building is located on spacious landscaped grounds to the southwest of the center of Bakersville. The southeast front has a large portico with four columns rising to a pediment at the roof line. There is a semi-circular balcony on the second story. On the center of the roof is a high white colored cupola. The building houses the County Superior Court of the 24th Judicial District and County District Court.
Old County Courthouse – Bakersville
Location: 11 North Mitchell Avenue / Crimson Laurel Way
Built: 1907 – 1908
Style: Neo-Classical
Architect: H L Lewman of Louisville, Kentucky
Contractor: Falls City Construction Company of Louisville, Kentucky
Description: The building faces southeast and is a two story white colored cast stone and concrete structure. The building is located on landscaped grounds in the center of Bakersville. The southeast front has a central entrance with small wrought iron balcony above on the second story. At the roof line is a wide pediment. The corners of the building are hexagonal. On the center of the roof is a square tiered cupola. The interior has a cross hall plan and the former courtroom is located on the second story.
See: The contractor Falls City Construction Company of Louisville, Kentucky.
See: National Register of Historic Places – Mitchell County Courthouse
See: The 24th Judicial District includes Avery County, Madison County, Watauga County and Yancey County.
History: The county was created in 1861 and Calhoun was selected as the county seat. In 1866 the county seat was moved to Davis and in 1868 the name of the county seat was changed to Bakersville. The first courthouse was a log structure built in 1868. The second courthouse was a wooden structure and sat where the third courthouse was constructed in 1907 and presently stands. The fourth and present courthouse was constructed in 1999 to 2000.
County Courthouse – Bakersville
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Old County Courthouse – Bakersville
View over Bakersville from County Courthouse
Photos taken 2012 and 2014