The courthouses of Georgia's 159 counties hold the keys to the history of individual families and entire communities alike. Internationally recognized photographer Greg Newington captures the prominence and character of these great structures, paying tribute to the community's investment in preserving historic courthouses for future generations.

The State of Georgia is second only to Texas for the largest number of counties and courthouses in the country. Georgia is also the largest state east of the Mississippi River. Georgia County Courthouses: The Architecture of Living Monuments catalogs and celebrates each of the 159 courthouses in the state of Georgia. One might think ""you've seen one courthouse, you've seen them all""—but what I quickly learned as the sole photo documentarian on this project is each county and courthouse offers a diverse variety of architecture spanning Greco Roman, Victorian architecture to coastal courthouses made with Tabby Concrete. The book also inspires beyond the aesthetic, and provides a rich record for history buffs; both Georgians and non-Georgians alike as the county markers on each of the courthouse grounds pays tribute, for example, to those who died during the civil wars and to those who helped define Georgia's unique history. People like Joanna Troutman from Crawford County. In 1835 she gave a lone star flag to Georgia soldiers who were going to fight for the independence of Texas. The flag was later adopted as the Texas Emblem. It is my hope that this comprehensive lens on Georgia's past will provide a launch pad for future discoveries and help promote tourism in our great state both on and off the beaten path. As a proud citizen of Georgia I can't think of a better way to honor our unrepeatable history and place each county and courthouse in the spotlight. Please enjoy. —from the Introduction by Rhett Turner

Their songs insist that the arrival of the railroad and the appearance of the tiny depot often created such hope that it inspired the construction of the architectural extravaganzas that were the courthouses of the era. In these buildings the distorted myth of the Old South collided head-on with the equally deformed myth of the New South."

"The County Courthouse Book is a concise guide to county courthouses and courthouse records. It is an important book because the genealogical researcher needs a reliable guide to American county courthouses, the main repositories of county records. To proceed in his investigations, the researcher needs current addresses and phone numbers, information about the coverage and availability of key courthouse records such as probate, land, naturalization, and vital records, and timely advice on the whole range of services available at the courthouse. Where available he will also need listings of current websites and e-mail addresses." -- Publisher website.

"Published in cooperation with the Association County Commissioners of Georgia."

Update of first edition

Few places in the United States feel the impact of courthouse disasters like the state of Georgia. Over its history, 75 of the state's counties have suffered 109 events resulting in the loss or severe damage of their courthouse or court offices. This book documents those destructive events, including the date, time, circumstance, and impact on records. Each county narrative is supported by historical accounts from witnesses, newspapers, and legal documents. Maps show the geographic extent of major courthouse fires. Record losses are described in general terms, helping researchers understand which events are most likely to affect their work.