History

Harris County, the 37th largest county in terms of size in the state of Georgia, is located in west central Georgia along the Chattahoochee River. It occupies land that was previously occupied by the Lower Creek Indian Tribe, who deeded it to the State of Georgia in the Treaty of Indian Springs in 1825. Harris County was created on December 14, 1827, by taking 465 square miles from Muscogee and Troup Counties. Hamilton, the county seat of Harris County, was established on March 2, 1828. The first courthouse was located at the southwest corner of the town square and was built out of logs. This structure was used until 1831, when a new courthouse was built on the same site. In 1865, Federal troops set the building afire, but the blaze was quickly extinguished. The present courthouse was built in 1908. The structure is Neoclassical Revival in design, with a two-story pedimented entrance portico and features six Doric columns and full entablature. A balcony hangs from the four central columns and large pilasters define the corners. The stately old building was rehabilitated in 1998, and a new addition was added to the rear of the building.