Floyd County Courthouse (Georgia)
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Floyd County Courthouse | |
 The historic courthouse in March 2023 | |
   | |
 The location of the courthouse within the city of Rome | |
| Location | 4 Government Plaza, Rome, Georgia. |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 34°15′21.1″N 85°10′16.9″W / 34.255861°N 85.171361°W |
| Area | less than 1 acre |
| Built | 1892–1893 |
| Architect | Bruce & Morgan |
| Architectural style | Romanesque Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 80001067 |
| Added to NRHP | February 2, 1980 |
The Floyd County Courthouse in Rome, Georgia, was constructed in between 1892 and 1893. Designed by the Bruce & Morgan architectural firm in the Romanesque Revival style, the courthouse was in use from 1892 until the construction of the new courthouse in 1975, which remains in use as of March 2026[update]. On February 2, 1980, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places under the reference number 80001067.[1][2]
On March 23, 2026, a fire broke out while the courthouse was undergoing renovations. Everyone inside of the building at the time of the fire was evacuated safely, although the building itself was severely damaged. The cause of the fire remains unknown.[2][3]
Background
The first Floyd County courthouse was a small log cabin located in the original county seat of Livingston. It was in use from its designation in 1833 until the construction of a second, brick courthouse in 1835. The second courthouse would be the first to be constructed in the city of Rome after the county seat was moved. It would remain in use until 1858 when it was replaced by the third courthouse, another brick building. The third courthouse is unique in being one of the few buildings that wasn't destroyed when the Union invaded the city in 1864.[4][5][6]
Design and construction
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The fourth courthouse was to be located near the banks of the Oostanaula river in downtown Rome. Construction lasted from 1892 to 1893. Upon completion, the third courthouse was torn down to make way for a new road while court proceedings were moved into the new building.[2][6]
The building was designed by Bruce & Morgan, an architectural firm based out of Atlanta that frequently incorporated Romanesque Revival architecture into their designs: a large bell tower was located on the northeastern corner of the building, featuring an open belfry and four clocks (one on each side). Multiple round bays were featured along each side of the exterior, and a smaller, rounded tower with a pointed roof was included on the side of the building facing toward the river. On the facade near the main entrance were three arches, with the rightmost arch framing the entrance and the other two framing large windows at the base of the bell tower. The interior of the building featured offices, a law library, and storage spaces as well as the main courtroom, which was located on the second floor.[1][2]
In the 1920s, the building's floorplan was expanded to the right of the main entrance, removing the smaller circular tower and adding another arched window.[7]
Addition to the National Register of Historic Places
The courthouse remained in use from its construction until 1975, when proceedings were moved to the new courthouse located just behind the historic building. On February 2, 1980, the courthouse would be added to the National Register of Historic Places under the reference number 80001067. Because it was no longer in use for court proceedings, it was classified as an endangered building, although some of the offices on the lower floors had since been occupied by the Rome Police Department.[1]
Although the roof had been damaged and was in need of repairs, most of the structure was noted to be in fair condition. The interior was found to be largely unchanged since its initial construction. The building would eventually become the Floyd County tax commissioners and tag office, and would remain as such until the 2026 fire.[1][7]
