Central City in Birmingham in Jefferson County, Alabama — The American South (East South Central)
Jefferson County Courthouses
Photographed by Tim Carr, June 25, 2009
1. Jefferson County Courthouses Marker
Territorial legislature designated home of Maj. Moses Kelly (in Jones Valley) as site of first court in this area of Alabama, 1818.
After creation of Jefferson County, 1819, court held at Carrollsville (Powderly) until county seat established at Elyton, 1820.
County seat moved to Birmingham, 1873. Two story brick Courthouse completed 1875 on NE corner 3rd Ave. and 21st St., North. Replaced 1887 by elaborate three story structure which served county until 1931. Separate Bessemer Division of Circuit Court established 1915. Bessemer Courthouse completed 1920.
Present Courthouse completed 1931. Designed by Holabird and Root of Chicago. Constructed of reinforced concrete faced with granite and limestone. North Annex built 1964.
Sculptured reliefs on west face depicting history of Jefferson County by Leo Friedlander.
Murals in west foyer representing "Old South" and "New South" by John Norton.
Bronze statue of Thomas Jefferson by Birmingham artist Georges Bridges.
Erected 1982 by Alabama Historical Association.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Arts, Letters, Music • Government & Politics •
this page online
Location. 33° 31.26′ N, 86° 48.558′ W. Marker is in Birmingham, Alabama, in Jefferson County. It is in Central City. It can be reached from Richard Arrington Junior Boulevard North. Marker located to the north of the west entrance (Linn Park side) of the Courthouse. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 716 Richard Arrington Jr Blvd N, Birmingham AL 35203, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in the American South and specifically in the Deep South. Globally, it is in North America, a Gulf of Mexico state, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture, one of the Confederate States of America, and the Antebellum South.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: The Right to Vote (here, next to this marker); Linn-Henley Research Library (within shouting distance of this marker); The Birmingham Public Library / The Linn - Henley Research Library (within shouting distance of this marker); The Importance of Being Educated (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Public Library Desegregated (about 300 feet away); Separate But Unequal Education (about 400 feet away); The Stand for Freedom (about 400 feet away); A City of Two Governments (about 400 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Birmingham.
Photographed by Tim Carr, June 25, 2009
2. Jefferson County Courthouse Marker reverse
Photographed by Tim Carr, December 21, 2009
3. Jefferson County Courthouses Marker
Photographed by Tim Carr, December 21, 2009
4. Jefferson County Courthouse West Side (Linn Park Side)
Photographed by Tim Carr, December 21, 2009
5. Jefferson County Courthouse East Entrance (Richard Arrington Jr. Blvd Side)
Photographed by Tim Carr, December 22, 2009
6. Jefferson County Courthouse Sculputed Relief 1 by Artist Leo Friedlander
Photographed by Tim Carr, December 22, 2009
7. Jefferson County Courthouse Sculputed Relief 2 by Artist Leo Friedlander
Photographed by Tim Carr, December 22, 2009
8. Jefferson County Courthouse Sculputed Relief 3 by Artist Leo Friedlander
Photographed by Tim Carr, December 22, 2009
9. Jefferson County Courthouse Sculputed Relief 4 by Artist Leo Friedlander
Photographed by Tim Carr, December 22, 2009
10. Jefferson County Courthouse Sculputed Relief 5 by Artist Leo Friedlander
Photographed by Tim Carr, December 22, 2009
11. Jefferson County Courthouse Sculputed Relief 6 by Artist Leo Friedlander
Photographed by Tim Carr, December 22, 2009
12. Jefferson County Courthouse Sculputed Relief 7 by Artist Leo Friedlander
Photographed by Tim Carr, December 21, 2009
13. "Old South" Mural, Artist John Norton
Photographed by Tim Carr, December 21, 2009
14. "Old South" Mural, Artist John Norton
Photographed by Tim Carr, December 21, 2009
15. "New South" Mural, Artist John Norton
Photographed by Tim Carr, December 21, 2009
16. "New South" Mural, Artist John Norton
Photographed by Tim Carr, December 22, 2009
17. Bronze Statue of Thomas Jefferson by Birmingham Artist Georges Bridges
Photographed by Unknown, 1889
18. The 1887-1931 Jefferson County Courthouse
Credits. This page was last revised on September 10, 2020. It was originally submitted on December 22, 2009, by Timothy Carr of Birmingham, Alabama. This page has been viewed 2,931 times since then and 54 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17. submitted on December 22, 2009, by Timothy Carr of Birmingham, Alabama. 18. submitted on September 10, 2020, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.
