Amherst County is named for Jeffrey Amherst, 1st Baron Amherst, who was a colonial governor of Virginia.
Surrounding County Courthouses:
N – Rockbridge County and Nelson County
E – Nelson County
S – Appomattox County, Campbell County and Lynchburg
W – Bedford County
Created: September 14, 1758 
County Seat:
Cablesville 1758 – 1807
Amherst 1807 – present
Old County Courthouse – Amherst
Location: 110 Goodwin Street / East Court Street
Built: 1872
Style: Colonial
Architect: Kilpatrick & Smith
Contractor: Kilpatrick & Smith
Description: The building faces west and is a two story white colored brick structure. The building is located on landscaped grounds in the center of Amherst on the west side of the courhouse. The west front project from the main building and has a pediment at the roof. There are one story north and south wings. The windows have shutters. On the center of the roof is a white colored cupola. The roof is hipped. The building was remodeled in 1933. An addition was constructed on the east side in 1962. The architect was Clarence H Hinnant. The building is attached to the modern courthouse on the east side.
County Courthouse – Amherst
Location: 113 Taylor Street / 2nd Street
Built: 1996 – 1997
Style: Modern
Architect: Hancock-Fuqua-Robertson Inc. of Lynchburg
Contractor: Sandy Pearce of Amherst
Description: The building faces east and is a two story red colored brick and concrete structure. The building is located on landscaped grounds in the center of Amherst. The east front has a large portico in the center supported by four large white colored columns rising to a pediment at the roof line. Behind the columns is a glass wall. The north and south wings project from the main building. The roof line is flat. The building houses the County Circuit Court, County General District Court and County Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court of the 24th Judicial Circuit. The old courthouse is attached on the west side. A further addition was constructed in 1977.
Note: The railing from the original courthouse was removed and installed on the second floor of the new courthouse. It has a prominent place in front of the large window. As you look out the window notice in the left section of the railing. It has a number of notches, which are believed to represent the number of hangings. There are eight notches.
See: The 24th Judicial Circuit includes Bedford County, Campbell County,
Lynchburg and Nelson County.
History: The county was created in 1758 and Cablesville (Colleen) was selected as the county seat in 1761 when the county was organized. The first county seat, is now in Nelson County and the first court met at Henry Key’s Ordinary which became the first courthouse and was erected in 1761. The building continued as the courthouse for Nelson County and burned in 1917. The county seat was moved to Amherst (Five Oaks) in 1807 and the first courthouse was a timber frame structure erected in 1808 to 1809. The second courthouse was built in 1870 to 1872 and is still standing. The third and present courthouse was constructed in 1996 to 1997.
Old County Courthouse – Amherst
County Courthouse – Amherst
Photos taken 2013