Alamance County Courthouse
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Alamance County Courthouse
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Alamance County Courthouse From NE Corner
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| Location | Courthouse Square, Graham, North Carolina |
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| Coordinates | 36°4′9″N 79°24′2″W / 36.06917°N 79.40056°WCoordinates: 36°4′9″N 79°24′2″W / 36.06917°N 79.40056°W |
| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1923 |
| Architect | Harry Barton |
| Architectural style | Classical Revival |
| MPS | North Carolina County Courthouses TR |
| NRHP Reference # | 79001655 |
| Added to NRHP | May 10, 1979 |
The Alamance County Courthouse in Graham, North Carolina, was built in 1923. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1979.
Alamance County has had several courthouses throughout its history.
The county's founding in 1849 was held at the Providence Meeting House in what would eventually become the Town of Graham. The Orange County Courts had held court here to serve the needs of the western half of the county prior to the founding of Alamance County in 1849. The first Court Session was held in June 1849.
On July 17, 1849, the Alamance County Commissioners voted to spend $8,000 to construct a courthouse in a 75-acre (300,000 m2) area located approximately 2 miles (3.2 km) south of the Providence Church. The County Commissioners expected to pay for the courthouse through the sale of land in the new county seat of Graham. They also levied an ad valorem tax on property of 35.25 cents per $100 valuation and a poll tax of 73.75 cents.
The courthouse was constructed with brick for the sum of $6,400 and was opened in 1852. In 1888, 2 new wings were added to the courthouse and the exterior of the courthouse was stuccoed. The courthouse remained open until 1923, when the County Commissioners voted for a new courthouse to replace the over 70-year-old building. The original courthouse was demolished. The only remaining piece of the old courthouse is the 400 lb (180 kg) bell from the cupola, which currently resides at Sesquicentennial Park in Courthouse Square in Graham.
The current Alamance County Courthouse that sits on the National Register of Historic Places, began construction in 1923 and was opened to the public on November 23, 1924 at a cost of $253,925.82. The courthouse was built in the Classical Revival style and features terracotta stonework, dental tooth molding, and metal-masonry floors. The courthouse originally housed the court system, county government offices, the sheriff's office, state government offices, agricultural offices, health department offices, and federal offices. The original sheriff's office is located in the southwestern 1st floor corner of the building, which features metal-framed shatter-resistant windows. The ceiling of the courtroom on the 2nd floor is silk. The Courthouse was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1979.
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