Monday at noontime I swung around the traffic circle in Princeton to get a look at the Mercer…read moreCounty Courthouse, a 1931 Classical Revival building designed by Alex B Mahood, the Bluefield architect responsible for a number of prominent southern West Virginia civic structures. Mercer County is named for Hugh Mercer, the Revolutionary War general, and Princeton has been the county seat since its founding, rebuilt after being burned twice during the Civil War. The courthouse was busy with busy with people coming and going, so I stayed outside and took in the building from the circle, getting honked at only twice while I tried to make sense of the traffic pattern. Driving slowly helps. The grounds were active, the building is clearly well kept, and even without going inside, it's easy to appreciate how this courthouse anchors the center of Princeton and remains one of the town's most recognizable landmarks. [Review 904 of 2026 - 216 in West Virginia - 26085 overall]

The parking here is extremely limited. There are a few spots on the street, but are limited to a…read moretwo hour maximum. If you have business to conduct at the courthouse be prepared to park off site and walk a short distance. The staff at the assessors office are professional and very helpful.

Jackson County was named for the 7th President of the United States, Andrew Jackson (1767-1845). He…read morewas President from 1829 to 1837 after serving as a US Army general and serving as both a Congressman (1796-1797) and Senator (1823-1825). Jackson County was formed in 1831 and Ripley has been the county seat the entire time. The current courthouse was completed in 1919 and is the third to serve the citizens of Jackson County. The building faces east and is a three story limestone and concrete structure. On the center of the roof is an octagonal white colored cupola with clock at the top. The building houses the County Circuit Court of the 5th Judicial Circuit, County Magistrate Court and County Family Court. When stopping by today, there was a farmer's market underway on the courthouse grounds. You'll also find a number of memorials, a Little Free Library and a markers pointing out local historical events including one notes about the county's participation in the Civil War. [Review 578 of 2025 - 162 in West Virginia - 24139 overall]

Jackson County was named for the 7th President of the United States, Andrew Jackson (1767-1845). He…read morewas President from 1829 to 1837 after serving as a US Army general and serving as both a Congressman (1796-1797) and Senator (1823-1825). Jackson County was formed in 1831 and Ripley has been the county seat the entire time. The current courthouse was completed in 1919 and is the third to serve the citizens of Jackson County. The building faces east and is a three story limestone and concrete structure. On the center of the roof is an octagonal white colored cupola with clock at the top. The building houses the County Circuit Court of the 5th Judicial Circuit, County Magistrate Court and County Family Court. When stopping by today, there was a farmer's market underway on the courthouse grounds. You'll also find a number of memorials, a Little Free Library and a markers pointing out local historical events including one notes about the county's participation in the Civil War.

Pike County is named for Zebulon Pike, who discovered Pikes Peak (Colorado). The courthouse…read morebuilding was completed in 1889 and was designed by the McDonald Brothers. It was remodeled extensively in the 1930s and still retains is Classical Revival design. The building has a symmetrical façade and a clock tower and a small square cupola. The first story has horizontal lined brickwork and the second and third stories have a light colored brick construction. The historical marker in front was erected in 1990 and points out some history, reading "Courthouse erected 1888-89 by McDonald Bros.; later renovated 1932-33. Here was scene of Hatfield clan trials for murders of Tolbert, Randolph, Jr., Pharmer, Alifair, and Calvin McCoy. The defendants lodged in adjacent jail; found guilty and sentenced to life in prison except Ellison Mounts, hanged February 18, 1890. Courthouse and jail part of Hatfield-McCoy Feud Historic Dist." It is marker number 1866 and was erected by the Kentucky Historical Society and the Kentucky Department of Highways. The grounds have a number of monuments and such. There is street parking and a parking deck nearby which also serves the adjacent Appalachian Wireless Arena. [Review 630 of 2025 - 321 in Kentucky - 24191 overall]

The courthouse is a two-story sandstone construction that faces north. It was constructed in 1892…read moreand is a striking example of Richardsonian Romanesque architecture, distinguished by its dramatic massing and rough stones. It is located across from Charleston City Hall and occupies the entire city block. The building has a regal appearance thanks to its twin towers with pyramidal roofs, arched belfry openings, and limestone colonnettes. Kanawha County was founded in 1789 with parts of Greenbrier and Montgomery Counties under the authorization of the Virginia General Assembly. It was named for the Kanawha River, itself derived from a Native American word believed to mean either "waterway" or "place of white stones." During the Civil War, Kanawha County was a strategic site, contributing troops to both Union and Confederate forces. Its divided loyalties reflected the broader tensions that led to the creation of West Virginia in 1863. Kanawha is West Virginia's most populous county. There is street parking all around. Some of it metered. I managed to find a legal space so that I could explore the courthouse and photograph. It's an impressive building! [Review 565 of 2025 - 150 in West Virginia - 24126 overall]

Saturday morning in Wytheville and the Wythe County Courthouse was sitting in a thick fog that gave…read morethe whole block a muted and quiet feel. It made the 1902 Classical Revival building look even more stately than usual as I walked the grounds. The courthouse was designed by Frank P. Milburn, the same architect behind a long list of early twentieth-century civic buildings across the south. I've seen dozens of his works. His signature style shows up here in the symmetry, the brick and stone detailing, and the confident proportions that make a small county seat feel a little more important. The courthouse has handled the usual mix of local criminal and civil matters over the decades but nothing that has ever turned into a statewide headline, which fits the quiet vibe of the place especially on a fogged in weekend morning when the offices are closed and you can wander without interruption. I did not spot a Confederate memorial anywhere on the property and that's because the monument was removed in 2020 after a vote by the county board, leaving the grounds feeling a bit more open and less cluttered. Wytheville itself takes its name from George Wythe, the Virginia jurist and signer of the Declaration of Independence, and the town has produced a few well known residents including Edith Bolling Wilson who was born just a block away and later became First Lady. [Review 899 of 2026 - 1550 in Virginia - 26080 overall]

This is the Robert Carlyle Byrd United States Courthouse and it serves as the headquarters for the…read moreUnited States District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia. Byrd (1917-2010) was a towering figure in American politics, serving as U.S. Senator from West Virginia for over 51 years. This remains the longest tenure in Senate history, exceeding the second-longest (Daniel Inouye from HI) by a 18 months. Born in North Carolina and raised in the coalfields of West Virginia, Byrd began his political career in the state legislature before moving to Congress in 1953. A Democrat, he held numerous leadership roles including Senate Majority Leader and President pro tempore, and was renowned for his mastery of Senate procedure and his passionate speeches. He directed billions in federal funding to West Virginia, leaving a legacy of infrastructure, education, and public service projects that bear his name. This courthouse was completed in the late 1990s and stands seven stories tall consuming over 450,000 square feet. It is the second-largest building in the entire state, behind the State Capitol. The structure occupies an entire city block and was designed to be both imposing and welcoming, with a four-story portico, stained-glass windows, and Art Deco-inspired detailing that crown its exterior. It, and the federal courthouse in Beckley WV, are named for the Senator. Inside, the courthouse features a sky-lit rotunda, cherry veneer paneling, and secure corridors that reflect updated federal design standards. It was the first courthouse built under the revised U.S. Courts Design Guide (1991), which emphasized separate circulation paths for judges, prisoners, and the public. I was able to find a nearby parking space and walk the grounds. It's a darned impressive building. You can't miss it. [Review 564 of 2025 - 149 in West Virginia - 24125 overall]