Caroline County is named for Caroline of Ansbach, who was the wife of King George III of Great Britain.
Surrounding County Courthouses:
N – Stafford County and King George County
E – Essex County, King and Queen County and King William County
S – Hanover County
Created: June 7, 1727 
County Seat:
Several places 1728 – 1803
Bowling Green 1803 – present
County Courthouse – Bowling Green
Location: 100 Courthouse Lane / Main Street
Built: 1830 – 1835
Style: Greek-Roman Revival
Architect: William B Phillips
Contractor: Malcolm F Crawford
Description: The building faces west and is a two story red colored brick laid in Flemish bond and wood structure. The building is surrounded by a Tuscan entablature with a Tuscan pediment at either end. The front pediment’s tympanum is plastered and features a semi-circular window in the center. There is an arcade along the first story at the front with four arches and side arches. On the roof is a small square cupola. The roof is hipped. In the interior, there is a brick tile floor and the courtroom has a gallery with stairs. An addition was built in 1907. The architect was William C West. An addition was constructed in 1970.
Note: The builder and construction date are not known as the county records were destroyed. The building was constructed between 1830 and 1835. The style of the building follows Thomas Jefferson’s design for Virginia courthouses. The building resembles the courthouse in Madison County and it is assumed that the same builders were involved. The courthouse is the sixth courthouse to serve the county.
See: Thomas Jefferson designed the Roman Temple style of courthouse. Prominent among the courthouse builders who had worked at the University of Virginia were Dabney Cosby, Sr., Malcolm F Crawford, and William B Phillips. They in turn influenced other builders in the Jeffersonian idiom, including Branch Ellington, William A Howard, David Meade, and Valentine Parrish. Courthouse still standing include those in Buckingham County and Charlotte County designed by Jefferson and those in Caroline County, Clarke County, Cumberland County, Goochland County, Greene County, Lunenburg County, Madison County, Mecklenburg County, Nottoway County, Page County, Rappahannock County and Sussex County.
County Circuit Court Building – Bowling Green
Location: 112 Courthouse Lane / Ennis Street
Built: 1969 – 1970
Style: Modern
Architect: Unknown
Contractor: Unknown
Description: The building faces north and is a one story red colored brick and concrete structure. The building is located in the center of Bowling Green on the east side of the courthouse. The main entrance is at the northeast corner with a recessed arched doorway with small pediment above. The center section is recessed with a central white colored doorway. The roof is hipped. The building houses the County Circuit Court of the 15th Judicial Circuit. The building is named as the J Peyton Farmer Circuit Court Building. The building is attached to the courthouse on the west side. The building was renovated in 2005 to 2006. The architect was Moseley Architects, Inc. if Richmond and the contractor was Daniel & Company Inc.
County Courthouse Annex – Bowling Green
Location: 111 Ennis Street / Courthouse Lane
Built: 2001 – 2003
Style: Modern
Architect: Moseley Architects, Inc. of Richmond
Contractor: Kenbridge Construction Company of Kenbridge.
Description: The building faces west and is a two story red colored brick and concrete structure. The building is l;ocated onlandscaped grounds in the center of Bowling Green to the sourth of the courthouse. The front has a one story arcade with three arches and side arches enclosed with glass windows. Above is a balcony. A white colored horizontal belt runs between the first and second stories. At the front is a semi-circular section above the roof line. The building houses the County General District Court and County Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court of the 15th Judicial Circuit.
See: The 15th Judicial Circuit includes Essex County, Fredericksburg, Hanover County, King George County, Lancaster County, Northumberland County, Richmond County, Spotsylvania County, Stafford County and Westmoreland County.
History: The county was created in 1727 and the court met in several places. In 1803, Bowling Green was selected as the county seat. The first courthouse was built in 1803 to 1809. The second and present courthouse was built in 1830 to 1835. The County Courthouse Annex was constructed in 2001 to 2003.
County Courthouse - Bowling Green
County Circuit Court Building – Bowling Green
County Courthouse Annex – Bowling Green
Photos taken 2013