Old Charlotte County Courthouse

Introduction

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The Old Charlotte County Courthouse was built in 1928 and served as the county's seat of government until 1999. Combining Greek and Roman elements, the building is an excellent example of Neoclassical architecture. The building features a large portico with columns supporting a pediment, pilasters (columns), and decorative brick and stonework. The design reflects the important role the courthouse played in the development of the county in the 20th century. The building now houses offices.

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Built in 1928, the Old Charlotte County Courthouse is a fine example of Neoclassical architecture. It served as the seat of county government for 71 years.

Backstory and Context

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Charlotte County was officially established in 1921 when DeSoto County was divided, a change residents had been calling for since 1887. The county was named after Charlotte Harbor. Punta Gorda, which means "wide point" in Spanish, was declared the county seat at this time as well. It was given this name for the peninsula where it's located. In 1927, the county bought land for the present courthouse from an African-American businessman named George Brown. Architecture firm Leitner and Henson, which was based in St. Petersburg, Florida, designed the courthouse. Until 1928, the county government met in rented space. The courthouse was expanded in the 1960s and 1980s. County government offices moved to the newly built Justice Center in 1999 and the old courthouse appears to have remained unused until 2008, when it reopened after a few years of restoration. The building is a contributing property with other structures that are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Sources

Florida Association of the American Institute of Architecture. A Guide to Florida's Historic Architecture. Gainesville, FL: University of Florida Press, 1989, pg. 120-121.

"Charlotte County Courthouse." Florida's 10th Judicial District. Retrieved from the WebArchive on March 16, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20091226024135/http://www.jud10.org/Courthouses/Charlotte/charlotte.html.

"Charlotte County Courthouse." The Historical Marker Database. Accessed March 16, 2021. https://www.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=167269.

Image Sources(Click to expand)

Wikimedia Commons: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Punta_Gorda_FL_crths01.jpg

Additional Information

"Charlotte County Courthouse." The Historical Marker Database.