Abbeville County is named for the town of Abbeville in France.
Surrounding County Courthouses:
N – Anderson County
E – Laurens County and Greenwood County
S – Greenwood County and McCormick County
W – Elbert County, Georgia
Created: March 2, 1785
County Seat:
Abbeville 1785 – present
County Courthouse – Abbeville
Location: 102 Court Square / East Pickens Street
Built: 1908 – 1909
Style: Beaux Arts
Architect: William Augustus Edwards of Edwards and Walter, Atlanta, Georgia
Contractor: Federic Minshall of Abbeville
Description: The building faces southwest and is a two story dark red colored brick and concrete structure. The building faces onto Courthouse Square in the center of Abbeville. The southwest front has four large unfluted stone columns with Scamozzi capitals, rising to wide stone header which runs horizontally across the building with a projecting cornice above. The entrance is recessed and framed with white colored wood having a large arched window above the doorway. On either side of the building are large arched windows. The building houses the County Circuit Court of the 8th Judicial Circuit. The building is connected to the City Hall on the south side. The building was renovated in 1964. The architect was Lyles, Bissett, Carlisle and Wolff of Columbia.
See: The architect William August Edwards designed other courthouses in Calhoun County, Darlington County (former), Dillon County, Jasper County, Kershaw County (former), Lee County, Sumter County and York County.
See: National Register of Historic Places – Abbeville County Courthouse
See: The 8th Judicial Circuit includes Greenwood County, Laurens County and Newberry County.
History: The county was created in 1785 and Abbeville was selected as the county seat. The first courthouse was a wooden structure built after 1785. In 1825, the second courthouse was built. The third courthouse was designed by Robert Mills and built in 1829. The fourth courthouse was built in 1853. And the fifth courthouse was built in 1875. The sixth and present courthouse was constructed in 1908 to 1909..

County Courthouse – Abbeville


Photos taken 2008