York County is named for York County in Pennsylvania.
Surrounding County Courthouses:
N – Cleveland County, North Carolina, Gaston County, North Carolina and Mecklenburg County, North Carolina
E – Mecklenburg County, North Carolina and Lancaster County
S – Chester County
W – Union County and Cherokee County
Created: March 2, 1785 
County Seat:
York 1785 – present
County Courthouse – York
Location: 2 South Congress Street / West Liberty Street
Built: 1914 – 1915
Style: Greek Revival
Architect: William Augustus Edwards of Darlington
Contractor: Travers-Wood Company of Richmond, Virginia
Description: The building faces east and is a four story yellow colored brick and concrete structure. The rectangular shaped building is located on landscaped grounds in the center of York. The building has a large portico supported by four large columns rising to a pediment below the roof line. The entrance doorway is framed with stone. Behind the portico is a green colored header at the top of the brick wall. A wing extends on the south side and on the north side. The interior has tile floors with inlaid Greek key patterning, marble wainscoting and door surrounds. There are stairs at either end of the longitudinal hall, The main courtroom on the third story has a plastered vaulted ceiling, Tuscan pilasters lining the walls and an apse at the north end containing a wooden crossetted tabernacle frame which serves as a backdrop for the judge’s seat. A courtroom is located on the first story and on the second story. The building houses the County Circuit Court of Common Pleas (Civil) of the 16th Judicial Circuit. An addition was constructed on the west side in 1941. The County Agricultural Building along the south side was built in 1955 and demolished in 2017. The building was renovated in 2010 to 2016. The architect was Stewart-Cooper-Newell Architects of Gastonia, North Carolina and Craig Gaulden Davis Inc. of Greenville and the contractor was Leitner Construction Company of Rock Hill.
Note: Rock Hill Heating and Plumbing Company was awarded the contract for the heating and plumbing in 1914.
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 Sumter County.
See: National Register of Historic Places – York County Courthouse
County Justice Center – York
Location: 1675 York Highway / Justice Boulevard
Built: 1991 – 1994
Style: Modern
Architect: Odell Associates, Inc of Charlotte, North Carolina
Contractor: Pizzagalli Construction Company, Inc. of Burlington, Vermont
Description: The building faces north and is a two story red colored brick, glass and concrete structure. The building is located on spacious landscaped grounds to the southeast of the center of York and is “L” shaped with a south wing and west wing. The north front has a one story porch with brick pillars which runs part way along the south wing and along the west wing. The second story windows are horizontal. Horizontal belts run across the exterior. The roof line is flat. The building houses the Circuit Court of General Sessions of the 16th Judicial District. The building is named as the Joseph R Moss Criminal Justice Center.
Note: During construction, four of the five subcontractors went bankrupt which delayed completion.
See: The 16th Judicial Circuit includes Union County.
History: The county was created in 1785 and York was selected as the county seat. The court met in January of 1786 and the first courthouse was built later in that year. The second courthouse was a two story structure designed by Robert Mills and built in 1823. An addition was added in 1896. The third courthouse was constructed in 1914 to 1916. An addition was constructed in 1955. The County Justice Center was constructed in 1991 to 1994.
County Government Center – York
Location: 6 South Congress Street / West Jefferson Street
Built: 2017 – 2019
Style: Modern
Architect: Stevens & Wilkinson of Columbia
Contractor: Clancy & Theys Construction Company of Charlotte, North Carolina
Description: The building faces north and is a three story light red colored brick, glass and concrete structure. The rectangular shaped building is located on spacious landscaped grounds in the center of York on the south side of the courthouse. Long vertical windows are along the first and second stories. The third story windows are small double windows. The north front has a large concrete portico rising to the top of the second story. The roof line is flat. The building houses the Commissioners Chamber.
Note: Cost of construction was $24,200,000. Other subcontractors were Cumming Corporation of Fort Mill, construction manager, W B Moore Company of Charlotte, North Carolina, electrical W E Smith Inc. of Charlotte, North Carolina, mechanical, Massey Plumbing Inc. of Gastonia, North Carolina, plumbing and Carolina Fire Control of Concord, North Carolina.
County Family Court Courthouse – Rock Hill
Location: 1555 West Main Street / Colby Street
Built: 2017 – 2019
Style: Modern
Architect: Moseley Architects
Contractor: Unknown
Description: The building faces north and is a three story light red colored brick, glass and concrete structure. The rectangular shaped building is located on spacious landscaped grounds in the center of Rock Hill. The north front has a large portico supported by four large white colored columns rising to a pediment at the roof line. Behind the portico is a square red colored brick tower with white colored cupola and green colored dome. The third story windows are small and the roof is hipped. The building houses the Circuit Family Court of the 16th Judicial District. The project manager was Cumming Corporation of Fort Mill.
County Courthouse – York
County Justice Center – York
Former County Agricultural Building (demolished) – York
Photos taken 2008 and 2014