Sumter County is named for Thomas Sumter, who was a Continental leader during the American Revolutionary War.
Surrounding County Courthouses:
N – Kershaw County and Lee County
E – Florence County and Clarendon County
S – Clarendon County and Calhoun County
W – Richland County
Created: March 2, 1798 
County Seat:
Sumter 1798 – present
County Courthouse – Sumter
Location: 141 North Main Street / East Canal Street
Built: 1906 – 1907
Style: Beaux Arts
Architect: William August Edwards and Franck C Walter of Atlanta, Georgia
Contractor: Morse DeLeon
Description: The building faces west and is a two story buff colored brick, limestone, metal and concrete structure. The building is located on landscaped grounds in the center of Sumter. The building has a large porch supported by six large white colored columns. The entrance is recessed with three large arched windows on the second story. A wide white colored header runs along the roof line with a balustrade above. The building was renovated from 1963 to 1965 with an addition constructed on the east side. The architect was James & DuRant & Associates of Sumter and the contractor was C B Askins Company of Lake City.
See: The architect William August Edwards designed other courthouses in Abbeville County, Calhoun County, Darlington County (former), Dillon County, Jasper County, Kershaw County (former), Lee County and York County and in Florida in Sumter County.
See: National Register of Historic Places – Sumter County Courthouse
County Justice Center – Sumter
Location: 215 North Harvin Street / East Canal Street
Built: 2011 – 2013
Style: Modern
Architect: Stevens & Wilkinson, Inc.
Contractor: Thompson Turner Construction
Description: The building faces west and is a three story brick and concrete structure. The building is located on landscaped grounds in the center of Sumter. The west front has a projecting portico with entrance on the first story, four high columns and pediment at the roof line. Behind the portico is a large glass wall. The roof is hipped.
History: The first court met at the home of John Gayle. The first courthouse was built in Sumter in 1802 to 1806. The second courthouse was designed by William Jay modeled after Robert Mills and built in 1821. An addition was built in 1848. The third and present courthouse was constructed in 1906 to 1907 at a cost of $85,000.
County Courthouse – Sumter
County Justice Center – Sumter
Photos taken 2008 and 2014