Wakulla County | US Courthouses

Wakulla County is named for the Timucuan Native American word meaning “spring of water” or “mysterious water”.

Surrounding County Courthouses:

N – Leon County

E – Jefferson County

S – Gulf of Mexico

W – Franklin County and Liberty County

Created: March 11, 1843

County Seat:

Port Leon 1843 – 1844

Newport 1844 – 1880

Crawfordville 1880 – present

County Courthouse – Crawfordville

Location: 3056 Crawfordville Highway / Arran Road

Built: 1948 – 1949

Style: Art Deco

Architect: James A Stripling

Contractor: S J Curry & Company

Description: The building faces east and is a three story white colored stucco and concrete structure. The building is located on landscaped grounds in the center of Crawfordville. The building is a “U” shape with two wings extending west. The east front has four large vertical pillars with the center section having large windows with many window pains. The roof line is flat. In the interior, the large County Circuit Court courtroom is located on the southeast side of the second story and has a high ceiking and a gallery at the rear. There is a small courtroom on the southwest side of the second story. The building houses the Circuit Court of the 2nd Judicial Circuit and County Court. The building was renovated in 1991. The architect was Mays Leroy Gray.

Old County Courthouse – Crawfordville

Location: 23 High Drive / Ochlockonee Street

Built: 1892 – 1893

Style: Federal

Architect: G W Tully

Contractor: G W Tully and Thomas McGlynn

Description: The building faces north and is a three story square white colored wood structure. The building is located on landscaped grounds in the center of Crawfordville to the south of the courthouse. The building is constructed of hearty pine cypress. The north and west sides have central entrances on the first story. The windows are vertical and narrow. The roof is hipped with peaks on each side of the building. On the center of the roof is an octagonal white colored wood cupola with steep roof and weather vane carved in the shape of a fished called a mullet. In the interior, a wood staircase ascends to the former courtroom located on the second story. The building is now the Wakulla County Library. J E Pigot was awarded the contract for the seats which cost $69.50.

See: National Register of Historic Places – Old Wakulla County Courthouse

See: The 2nd Judicial Circuit includes Franklin County, Gadsden County, Jefferson County, Leon County and Liberty County.

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

Old County Jail – Crawfordville

Location: 24 High Drive / Harper Street

Built: 1948

Style: Art Deco / Federal

Architect: James A Stripling

Contractor: S J Curry & Company

Description: The building faces south and is a two story colored stucco and concrete structure. The building is located on landscaped grounds in the center of Crawfordville to the west of the courthouse. The entrance is located at the center of the south front. The roof line is flat.

History: The county was created in 1843 and Port Leon was selected as the county seat. In 1844, the county seat was moved to Newport and the first courthouse was erected. The county seat was moved to Crawfordville in 1866 and the courthouse was moved and rebuilt in Crawfordville. The courthouse was destroyed by arson in 1892. The second courthouse was constructed in 1893 to 1894 at a cost of $3,739 and is still standing. The third and present courthouse was constructed in 1948 to 1949.