Lee County | US Courthouses

Lee County is named for Robert E Lee, who was a Confederate general in the American Civil War, and who lived from 1807 to 1870.

Surrounding County Courthouses:

N – Charlotte County

E – Hendry County and Collier County

S – Collier County

W – Gulf of Mexico

Created: May 3, 1887

County Seat:

Fort Myers 1887 – present

County Justice Complex – Fort Myers

Location: 1700 Monroe Street / Dr. Martin Luther King Boulevard

Built: 1982 – 1984

Style: Modern

Architect: Watson & Company

Contractor: Morrison-Knudsen Company Inc.

Description: The building faces east and is a five story concrete and glass structure. The building is located on landscaped grounds in the center of Fort Myers on the west side of the courthouse. The building has horizontal bands of light purple colored stone and few windows. The roof line is flat. The building is named as the County Justice Complex. The building houses the County Circuit Court of the 20th Judicial District and County Court. In 2008 to 2011, the building was expanded with the construction of a ten story tower on the west side. The architect was Barany Schmidt & Weaver and the contractor was Balfour Beatty.

County Courthouse – Fort Myers

Location: 2120 Main Street / Monroe Street

Built: 1915 – 1916

Style: Neoclassical Revival

Architect: Francis J Kennard

Contractor: E P Heifner

Description: The building faces northwest and is a two story buff brick, stone and concrete structure. The rectangular shaped building is located on landscaped grounds in the center of Fort Myers. With the 1926 addition, the building forms a “T” extending southeast to connect with the County Administration Building. The north front projects from the main building and has a recessed porch with two large Doric columns rising to a header. Stone work runs along the roof line. In the interior, the first story has a vestibule and lobby which adjoin the main east-west corridor. A monumental mantle stair hall at the east end provides access to the second story. The floors have one-inch ceramic tile in a geometric design. The walls of the main corridor are faced with a gray colored marble wainscot. The County Circuit Court courtroom occupied the center of the second story. The 1926 addition has a courtroom on the first story. The architect for the 1926 addition was Francis J Kennard and the contractor was M T Reed Construction Company.

See: National Register of Historic Places – Lee County Courthouse

See: The 20th Judicial Circuit includes Charlotte County, Collier County, Glades County and Hendry County.

See: The county is located in the Second Judicial District of the Court of Appeal – Second Judicial District located in Lakeland and Tampa.

History: The county was created in 1887 and Fort Myers was selected as the county seat. The county rented space in the Towles and Hendry general store. The first courthouse was a wood frame structure built in 1894 to 1895 at a cost of $3,640. The second and present courthouse was constructed in 1915 to 1916 at a cost of $100,000. The cost of the 1926 addition was $35,000. The County Justice Complex was constructed in 1982 to 1984.

County Administration Building – Fort Myers

Location: 2115 2nd Street / Monroe Street

Built: 1961 – 1962

Style: Modern

Architect: Gundersen & Wilson

Contractor: W A Berbusse Jr, Inc.

Description: The building faces southeast and is a six story glass and concrete structure. The building is located on landscaped grounds in the center of Fort Myers on the southeast side of the courthouse. The walls are glass and colored panels with narrow vertical dividers. The southeast front has a central one story canopy. The roof line is flat.

County Administration East Building – Fort Myers

Location: 2201 2nd Street / Broadway Street

Built: 1977 – 1978

Style: Modern

Architect: W R Frizell

Contractor: H D Rutleledge and Son Inc.

Description: The building faces southeast and is a six story glass, brick and concrete structure. The building is located on landscaped grounds in the center of Fort Myers. The southwest corner has a high round red colored brick tower. The main entrance at the center of the southeast front has a concrete canopy. The roof line is flat. The building was constructed as the First Federal Savings and Loan Association and was acquired by the County.