Laurel in Henrico County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)

The Courthouses in Richmond

Growth and Consolidation

Photographed by Bernard Fisher, January 13, 2011

1. The Courthouses in Richmond Marker

Inscription. The 1752 Henrico Courthouse, a colonial-style brick structure, was built in Richmond in the middle of 22nd and East Main streets. The Declaration of Independence was read publicly for the first time from its steps on August 5, 1776. In 1824, the courthouse was in need of repair and a committee decided to completely rebuild the structure. It opened in November of 1825 and stood in the middle of 22nd Street like its predecessor. It was described as a building 70 by 46 feet, one story high, with gallery around the courtroom. It was made of brick and was fronted by a Doric portico with four columns. In 1843, the courthouse was dismantled and rebuilt on the corner of 22nd and East Main streets opening the road to traffic. This structure was damaged during the Civil War in the evacuation fire of April 1865. It was replaced in 1896 by a new courthouse designed to house all of the county’s offices. Annexation by the City of Richmond expanded beyond the boundaries of the courthouse which made it necessary to declare the courthouse parcel part of Henrico in order to maintain its county jurisdiction.

Erected 1997 by County of

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Henrico Division of Recreation and Parks.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Colonial Era • Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical month for this entry is April 1865.

Location. 37° 37.727′ N, 77° 31.028′ W. Marker is in Laurel, Virginia, in Henrico County. It can be reached from Prince Henry Drive near East Parham Road. This panel is located outside of the Court Building at the Henrico Government Center. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 4301 East Parham Road, Henrico VA 23228, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Virginia’s Piedmont,

in Central Virginia,

and in the Richmond Metropolitan Area.

It is also in the American South,

specifically in the Upper South,

and on the Eastern Seaboard. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

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 original Thirteen Colonies,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At

1896 Henrico Courthouse at 22nd & Main in Richmond. image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Bernard Fisher, February 21, 2009

2. 1896 Henrico Courthouse at 22nd & Main in Richmond.

least 8 other markers are within 3 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: The Courthouse Today (here, next to this marker); The Early Courthouses in Varina (here, next to this marker); Henrico County (here, next to this marker); Laurel Historic District (approx. 1.1 miles away); Virginia Home for Boys (approx. 1.4 miles away); Bethlehem Baptist Church (approx. 1.6 miles away); Skipwith Academy (approx. 2.2 miles away); American Legion Post 244 (approx. 2.3 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Laurel.

Another marker is no longer nearby. Outer Defenses (was approx. 1.8 miles away but has been confirmed missing).

More about this marker. On the left is an "1825 architect’s sketch of courthouse."

On the right are two photos with the caption, "The courthouse (inset) as it appeared in the 1850s. After two fires in November of 1894, the Board of Supervisors decided to replace the courthouse with the above Romanesque Revival brick building."

Also see . . . Henrico County History. (Submitted on January 14, 2011.)

Courthouse Interpretive Plaza image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Bernard Fisher, January 13, 2011

3. Courthouse Interpretive Plaza

Henrico County Courts Building image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Bernard Fisher, January 13, 2011

4. Henrico County Courts Building

Credits. This page was last revised on April 26, 2022. It was originally submitted on January 14, 2011, by Bernard Fisher of Richmond, Virginia. This page has been viewed 1,025 times since then and 81 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on January 14, 2011, by Bernard Fisher of Richmond, Virginia.