Dade County is named for Francis Dade, who was a Virginian stationed in central Florida to help enforce the treaty that ended the First Seminole War.
Surrounding County Courthouses:
N – Marion County, Tennessee and Hamilton County, Tennessee
E – Walker County
S – Walker County
W – DeKalb County, Alabama and Jackson County, Alabama
Created: December 25, 1837 
County Seat:
Trenton 1837 – present
County Courts Facility – Trenton
Location: 255 Crabtree Street / Cass Avenue
Built: 2009 – 2010
Style: Modern
Architect: Frank McDonald Architects
Contractor: Construction Consultants of Chattanooga, Tennessee
Description: The building faces north and is a one story red colored brick, concrete and glass structure. The building is located in the center of Trenton. The main entrance is a two story section on the east side of the north front. There is a canopy supported by two pillars and a hipped green colored roof. The center section has a large glass window. There are three sections along the north front which project from the main building. The building is named as the Dade County Courts Facility. The building houses the County Superior Court, County Juvenile Court and County Probate Court of the 7th Judicial District.
Old County Courthouse – Trenton
Location: 12371 South Main Street / Court Street
Built: 1926 – 1927
Style: Dutch Colonial Revival / Carpenter Style
Architect: Barrett Construction Company of Dalton
Contractor: Barrett Construction Company of Dalton
Description: The building faces east and is a two story red colored brick structure. The building is located on landscaped grounds of the Courthouse Circle in the center of Trenton. The entrance is in the center of the first story. The windows have stone trim. At each corner is a square brick projection above the roof line. The building stands vacant.
Note: The courthouse is similar to the early Carpenter Style in North Georgia as seen in the courthouses in Dawson County and White County.
See: National Register of Historic Places – Dade County Courthouse
History: The county was created in 1837 and Trenton was selected as the county seat. The first courthouse was built in Trenton in 1849 and burned in 1853. The second courthouse was built in 1854 and was burned in 1863 during the Civil War. The third courthouse was built in 1869. The fourth courthouse was constructed in 1926 and is still standing. The fifth and present courthouse was constructed in 2009 to 2010.
County Justice Building – Trenton
Location: 75 Cass Avenue / Church Street
Built: 1988 – 1989
Style: Modern
Architect: Associated Architectural Services
Contractor: T & C Construction Company Inc.
Description: The building faces east and is a one story concrete, brick and glass structure. The building is located in the center of Trenton. The building has a flat roof line. The building houses the law enforcement branch. The building houses the County Magistrate Court.
County Administration Building – Trenton
Location: 71 Cass Avenue / Church Street
Built: 2000 – 2001
Style: Modern
Architect: Killian Clark Partnership of Ringgold
Contractor: Construction Consultants of Chattanooga, Tennessee
Description: The building faces north and is a two story red colored brick structure. The building is located in the center of Trenton. There is a large arch at the north entrance on the second story. The first story follows the hill southwards. In the interior is the large Commissioners Room.
County Cours Facilirty – Trenton
Old County Courthouse – Trenton
County Justice Building – Trenton
County Administration Building – Trenton
Photos taken 2010 and 2023