DeKalb County is named for Johann de Kalb, who was a German born baron who assisted the Continentals during the American Revolutionary War.
Surrounding County Courthouses:
N – Smith County
E – Putnam County and White County
S – Warren County
W – Cannon County and Wilson County
Created: December 11, 1837 
County Seat:
Smithville 1838 – present
County Courthouse – Smithville
Location: 1 North Public Square / East Main Street
Built: 1969 – 1970
Style: Art Deco
Architect: Maffett-Howland and Associates
Contractor: Puckett Construction Company
Description: The building faces west and is a two story stone, glass and concrete structure. The building is located on the landscaped grounds of the Public Square in the center of Smithville. There are vertical windows and the center section on the west and east sides project from the main building. The roof line is flat. The interior has Art Deco ornamentation and marble. The courtroom is located on the second story. The building houses the County Circuit Court, County Chancery Court, County Criminal Court, County General Sessions Court and County Juvenile Court of the 13th Judicial District.
See: The 13th Judicial District includes Clay County, Cumberland County, Overton County, Pickett County, Putnam County and White County.
History: The county was created in 1837 and Smithville was selected as the county seat in 1838. The first court met in 1838 at the log home of Mr. Richardson on the bank of Fall Creek. The court met in the newly completed brick jail in 1839. The first courthouse was a two story brick structure erected in Smithville in 1839 to 1840. The second courthouse was built in 1890 in the center of the square. The courthouse was destroyed by fire in 1925. The third courthouse was constructed in 1925 to 1926 and was replaced by the fourth and present courthouse in 1969 to 1970.
County Courthouse – Smithville
Photos taken 2012 and 2018