Limestone County | US Courthouses

Limestone County is named for Limestone Creek and the deposits of limestone in the region.

Surrounding County Courthouses:

N – Giles County, Tennessee and Lincoln County, Tennessee

E – Madison County

S – Morgan County and Lawrence County

W – Lauderdale County

Created: February 6, 1818

County Seat:

Athens 1819 – present

County Courthouse – Athens

Location: 200 West Washington Street / North Jefferson Street

Built: 1916 – 1919

Style: Neo-Classical

Architect: Bem Price of Birmingham

Contractor: Little-Cleckler Construction Company and Johnson Chambers Lumber Company of Athens ( contractor who finished the building )

Description: The building faces west and is a two story buff colored brick and stone structure. The building is located on landscaped grounds in the center of Athens. The west front has a large portico supported by four columns rising to a pediment with clock at the roof line. There is a portico on the north and south sides. On the center of the roof is a round green colored dome. The building houses the County Circuit Court of the 39th Judicial Circuit and the County District Court and County Probate Court.

Note: Due to the rise in prices of copper and building materials during World War I, Little-Cleckler Construction Company went bankrupt. Johnson Chambers Lumber Company of Athens completed the contract at a cost of $200,000.

See: Little-Cleckler Construction Company of Anniston, Alabama also constructed courthouses in Alabama in Fayette County and Jackson County; in Georgia in Bleckley County, Clarke County, Lincoln County and Walker County; and in Mississippi in Franklin County, Lawrence County, Walthall County and Webster County.

See: National Register of Historic Places – Athens Historic District

County Courthouse Annex – Athens

Location: 100 South Clinton Street / Washington Street East

Built: 2001 – 2002

Style: Modern

Architect: 2WR/Holmes Wilkins Architects

Contractor: Martin & Cobey Construction Company, Inc. of Athens

Description: The building faces east and is a two story red colored brick and concrete structure. The building is located on landscaped grounds in the center of Athens to the east of the courthouse. There is red colored brick on the lower part of the building. The building has a green roof. The building houses the County Probate Court of the 39th Judicial District.

History: The county was created in 1818 and Athens was selected as the county seat. The first courthouse was a wood structure built in 1820. The second courthouse was a wood structure built in 1825. The third courthouse was built in 1835 and was destroyed during the Civil War in 1863. The fourth courthouse was a brick structure built in after the Civil Wear. The fifth and present courthouse was constructed in 1916 to 1919. The county Courthouse Annex was constructed in 2001 to 2002.

County Administration – Athens

Location: 310 West Washington Street

Built: 1932 – 1933

Style: Neo-Classical Revival

Architect: Britt Alderman of Atlanta, Georgia

Contractor: W B Smith of El Dorado, Arkansas

Description: The building faces south and is a two story red colored brick and concrete structure. The building is located in the center of Athens to the west of the courthouse. The building was constructed as a Post Office.

See: National Register of Historic Places – Old Athens Main Post Office