Sussex County was named by William Penn for the English county of Sussex, which was his home county.
Surrounding County Courthouses:
N – Kent County and Cumberland County, New Jersey
E – Cape May County, New Jersey and Atlantic Ocean
S – Worcester County, Maryland and Wicomico County, Maryland
W – Wicomico County, Maryland, Dorchester County, Maryland and Caroline County, Maryland
Created: August 8, 1673
County Seat:
Lewis 1673 – 1791
Georgetown 1791 – present
County Courthouse – Georgetown
Location: 1 The Circle / East Market Street
Built: 1837 – 1840
Style: Colonial Revival
Architect: William Strickland
Contractor: Layton & Sipple
Description: The building faces southwest and is a two story red colored brick structure. The building is located on landscaped grounds in the center of Georgetown. The southwest front has a wide portico supported by six white colored columns rising to a header with a pediment above the center section. Above the entrance is a small balcony on the second story. A large square brick clock tower rises to a square white colored base with a smaller cupola at the top. The building was remodeled in 1914. The architect was Brinklee & Canning. The building was enlarged in 1969 with an addition constructed on the northeast side of the building.
See: National Register of Historic Places – Sussex County Courthouse
See: The Delaware Chancery Court is located at 34 The Circle along with the Delaware Supreme Court in Sussex County.
County Family Court Courthouse – Georgetown
Location: 22 The Circle / East Market Street
Built: 1986 – 1988
Style: French Renaissance
Architect: French + Ryan, Inc.
Contractor: Unknown
Description: The building faces northeast and is a two story red colored brick and concrete structure. The building is located on landscaped grounds in the center of Georgetown to the west of the courthouse. The northeast front has a central entrance with small balcony above on the second story. The roof has five dormers on the main section and rises to a balustrade at the top with tall octagonal white colored cupola. The north and south wings have two dormers along the roof. The building is named as the Robert D Thompson Family Court Building.
Note: A new Family Court Courthouse is being constructed.
Old County Court House – Georgetown
Location: SW – South Bedford Street / West Pine Street
Built: 1791 – 1793
Style: Colonial
Architect: Unknown
Contractor: Unknown
Description: The building faces northeast and is a two story dark colored wood structure. The building is located on landscaped grounds in the center of Georgetown to the south of the courthouse. The northeast front has a central entrance on the first story. There are shutters on the windows. On the roof is a wood belfry. The roof is hipped. The building served as the courthouse until 1837.
See: National Register of Historic Places – Old Sussex County Courthouse
History: The county was created in 1673 and Lewis was selected as the county seat. In 1791, the county seat was moved to Georgetown and the first courthouse was built in 1791 to 1793 which is still standing. The second and present courthouse was constructed in 1837 to 1840. The Chancery Court Courthouse was constructed in 2001 to 2003.
County Courthouse – Georgetown
County Family Court Courthouse – Georgetown
Old County Courthouse – Georgetown
Photos taken 2013