Baldwin County's first courthouse was a log cabin owned by George
Hill in the settlement of Hillsborough. In Dec. 1807, the
legislature created four new counties from Baldwin, with
Hillsborough transferred to newly created Randolph (later renamed
Jasper) County. On Dec. 22, 1808, the General Assembly authorized
Baldwin County to levy a tax to build a courthouse on the southeast
corner of Penetentiary Square. Until the courthouse could be
erected, county court sessions were to be held in a rented house.
Baldwin County's first real courthouse was completed in 1814 at a
cost of $3,975. This building was used until replaced by a larger
courthouse built on the same site in 1847. This courthouse burned in
1861, after which court sessions were held in the Georgia Capitol,
the Milledgeville Opera House, and the local Masonic Hall. In 1883,
the legislature authorized Baldwin County to borrow up to $25,000 to
build four fireproof county offices, as well as a courthouse, on the
site of the former courthouse. In 1885, work began on the new
courthouse, which was completed in 1887. This courthouse was
remodeled in 1937 and 1965. In 1990, planning began on a new
courthouse. After local option sales tax referendums were approved
in 1990 and 1992, construction of a new courthouse began in 1995 and
was completed in 1997.
County Seat (a small settlement today located in Jasper County about
25 miles northwest of Milledgeville). In Dec. 1807, the legislature
formed four new counties from portions of Baldwin County. The same
month, the legislature designated Milledgeville county seat, since
Hillsborough was now part of newly created Randolph County (later
renamed Jasper County). Milledgeville was laid out to be Georgia's
new state capital and first settled in 1803. Incorporated as a town
on Dec. 8, 1806, Milledgeville as named for former governor John
Milledge (1757-1818).
