James City County is named for King James I of England.
Surrounding County Courthouses:
N – New Kent County
E – King and Queen County, Gloucester County, York County and Newport News
S – Surry County
W – Charles City County and New Kent County
Created: 1634 
County Seat:
Jamestown 1634 – 1715
Williamsburg 1715 – present
County Courthouse – Williamsburg
Location: 5201 Monticello Avenue / Courthouse Street
Built: 1998 – 2000
Style: Modern
Architect: Jorge L Hernand & Francis Lyn
Contractor: Moseley, Harris & McClintock
Description: The building faces west and is a three story brown colored brick and concrete structure. The building is located on landscaped grounds on the west side of the center of the city. The west front has a one story brick portico with four brick pillars and recessed entance. Above the portico is a circular window. On the hipped roof are three square glass cupolas. The building is the James City – Williamsburg Courthouse.
Note: The county is one of the original 8 shires in 1634, being James City Shire.
Note: The cost of construction was $11,000,000.
Old County Courthouse – Williamsburg
Location: 101 Duke of Gloucester Street / Palace Green Street
Built: 1770 – 1771
Style: Georgian
Architect: Robert Smith
Contractor: Unknown
Description: The building faces south and is a one story red colored brick structure. The building is located on landscaped grounds with Market Square on the north side in Colonial Williamsburg in the center of city. The south front has an extended pediment section at the roof line with arched entrance below. The tall windows are ached with white colored shutters. The hipped roof rests on an entablature with dentil moldings. The roof is pierced on both sides by a chimney and a central octagonal drum capped with a dome and a spire. The building was damaged by fire in 1911 and was restored. The architect was Lee & Diehl.
Note: The courthouse was the site where Benjamin Waiker read aloud the Declaration of Independence on July 25, 1776, after it arrived from Philadelphia. The building was used as a hospital for the Confederate Army after the Battle of Williamsburg .
See: The 9th Judicial Circuit includes Charles City County, Gloucester County, King and Queen County, King William County, Mathews County, Middlesex County, New Kent County, Poquoson, Williamsburg and York County.
Note: The first court met in Jamestown in 1634 in taverns, dwellings and the Statehouse. In 1676, the first courthouse was built. From 1691 to 1698, the court met in the Statehouse. In 1721, a courthouse built in Williamsburg and in 1770, the old courthouse was built. In 1932, a courthouse was constructed at Francis Street and England Street. In 1969, a courthouse was constructed on Henry Street.
County Courthouse - Williamsburg
Old Courthouse
Photos taken 2013