Note: This is NOT the official web site of Meriwether County or of any county officials; it is an educational web site about the history of the county courthouse and the county itself.  For the address and phone number of the courthouse and county officials, see the NaCO web page for Meriwether County, linked below: Address and Phone Number: See NaCO web page for Meriwether County Location: Greenville Date Built: 1904 Architectural Style: Neoclassical Revival Designer: J.W. Golucke

Other Information: Meriwether County's first courthouse reportedly was a two-story brick building constructed in 1832. The courthouse was badly damaged by a tornado in 1893 -- but it was rebuilt and served until the current courthouse was completed in 1904 (see early photo). In 1976, a fire destroyed much of the building -- except for the brick exterior walls. In a restoration begun in 1977 and completed in 1980, the courthouse was rebuilt within the original walls. The interior, however, was significantly altered to provide more office space. The courthouse rotunda was eliminated, a basement dug, and the ceiling space reduced to allow three floors instead of two. A French bell weighing one-half ton was installed in the clock tower, and a statue of the female muse Justice placed on top of the tower. County Courthouse Historical Marker: Click here County History: Meriwether County [initially spelled Merriwether] was created from Troup County on Dec. 14, 1827 by an act of the General Assembly (Ga. Laws 1827, p. 69). The county was organized by an act of Dec. 24, 1827 (Ga. Laws 1827, p. 65). Georgia's 71st county was created entirely from Troup County. [Click here to read a legal description of the county's original boundaries.] Georgia's 71st county was named for former Georgia congressman David Meriwether (1755-1822). County Seat: The Dec. 24, 1827 act organizing Meriwether County provided that the first election of county officials take place on the first Monday in Feb. 1828 at the house of Hugh W. Ector (Ga. Laws 1827, p. 65). The legislation also authorized the justices of the county's new inferior court to select the site of the county seat, purchase the land, lay out town lots, and arrange for building a courthouse. The inferior court selected a site on land owned by Ector and named the new town Greenville after Revolutionary War hero Nathanael Greene. On Dec. 20, 1828, the legislature designated Greenville permanent county seat and incorporated it as a town (Ga. Laws 1828, p. 149). Maps Historical Maps of Meriwether County Georgia DOT Map of Meriwether County, pdf (820 K) Georgia DOT Map of Meriwether County, jpg (342 K) USGS Topographical Map of Meriwether County Size of County (Total Area): 505.4 square miles County Rank in Total Area: 28th out of 159 Population: Meriwether County 22,534 (2000) Meriwether County Historical Population Profile City of Greenville 946 (20000)

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