Union County | US Courthouses

Union County is named for the union of states of the United States of America.

Surrounding County Courthouses:

N – Baker County

E – Bradford County

S – Alachua County

W – Columbia County

Created: May 20, 1921

County Seat:

Lake Butler 1921 – present

County Courthouse – Lake Butler

Location: 55 West Main Street / NW 1st Avenue

Built: 1936 – 1937

Style: Classical Revival

Architect: John Pearson of Gainesville

Contractor: Works Progress Administration

Description: The building faces south and is a two story red colored brick, stone and concrete structure. The building is located on landscaped grounds in the center of Lake Butler. The south front has a projecting central section with large stone trimmed arch at the entrance with arched window on the second story. The corners are trimmed with stone. A cornice runs below the roof line. The courtroom is located in the center of the second story. The building houses the Circuit County of the 8th Judicial Circuiut and County Court, The building was a Works Progress Administration project. An additions were added in 1967. The architect was Harry E Burns Jr. and the contractor was Vinson T Forrester Jr. From 1999 to 2000, renovation was done. The architect was T C Skinner & Associates Inc. of Gainesville and the contractor was Scott Peterson Construction of Jacksonville.

Old County Courthouse – Lake Butler

Location: 285 NE First Avenue / NW 3rd Street

Built: 1922

Style: Wood Frame

Architect: Unknown

Contractor: Unknown

Description: The building faces north and is a two story wood frame structure. The building is located on landscaped grounds in the center of Lake Butler to the north of the courthouse. The north front has a one story veranda. On the west side is a stone chimney and central porch. The building foundation is stone and the roof is hipped. The building served as the courthouse from 1922 to 1936 and is now the Women’s Club. In 1936, the building was moved from the courthouse square to its present location.

See: National Register of Historic Places – Women’s Club (Old Courthouse)

See: The 8th Judicial District includes Alachua County, Baker County, Bradford County, Gilchrist County and Levy County.

History: In 1858, Lake Butler became the county seat for New River County and in 1861 for Bradford County and a wood structure was erected on the present courthouse site. In 1898, the county seat was moved to Starke and a courthouse was constructed in 1902 to 1903 and Lake Butler became the county seat of Union County in 1921. In 1921, office space was rented in the Townsend Building. In 1922, the first courthouse was constructed in Lake Butler and is still standing. The second and present courthouse was constructed in 1936 to 1937 at a cost of $38,000.

See: The county is located in the First Judicial District of the Court of Appeal – First Judicial District located in Tallahassee.