Montgomery County is named for Richard Montgomery, who was a United States general killed in the American Revolutionary War, or for the County of Montgomeryshire in Wales.
Surrounding County Courthouses:
N – Berks County and Lehigh County
E – Bucks County
W – Delaware County and Chester County
Created: September 10, 1784
County Seat:
Norristown 1784 – present
County Courthouse - Norristown
Location: 2 East Airy Street / Swede Street
Built: 1853 – 1854
Style: Neo-Classical
Architect: Napoleon Eugene Henry Charles LeBrun
Contractor: Unknown
Description: The building faces northwest and is a two story stone structure. The building is located on raised landscaped grounds in the center of Norristown. The northwest front has a large portico with six high columns rising to a pediment at the roof line. On the flat roof is a large dome with green colored dome with clocks. The building houses the County Court of Common Pleas (Criminal) and County Court of Common Pleas (Civil). The building was remodeled in 1902 to 1904. The architect was Schermerhorn & Reinhold and the contractor was William Miller & Son. The building was renovated in 1914 and in 1929 when the architect was Rankin & Kellogg. The building was renovated in 1942 and in 1968 when the architect was Vincent G Kling & Associates. On the east side is a large annex constructed in 1929.
County Justice Center - Norristown
Location: 350 Swede Street / East Main Street
Built: 2021 – 2026
Style: Modern
Architect: Skidmore, Owings & Merrit
Contractor: Shanska Construction of San Francisco, California.
Description: The building faces northwest and is a six story glass and concrete structure. The building is located on landscaped grounds in the center of Norristown along the south side of the courthouse. The structure rises in tiered layers. The roof line is flat The building houses 18 courtrooms. The building is presently under construction.
Old County Courthouse - Norristown
Location: 420 West Germantown Pike / Barley Sheaf Drive
Built: 1737
Style: Federal
Architect: Robert Shannon
Contractor: Robert Shannon
Description: The building faces north and is a two story flagstone ad wood frame structure. The building is located on landscaped grounds to the north of the center of Norristown. The roof is hipped. The building served as the first county courthouse from 1784 to 1787 and now houses offices..
History: The county was created in 1784 and Norristown was selected as the county seat. The first courts met in the Barley Sheaf Inn which served as the first courthouse from 1784 to 1787 and is still standing. The second courthouse was a two story frame structure built in 1787 with office built in 1791. The third and present courthouse was constructed in 1853 to 1854. The County Justice Center is being constructed in 2021 to 2026 at a cost of $415,000,000.
County Courthouse – Norristown
Photos taken 2017