{{short description|Historic courthouse in North Carolina, US}} {{Use American English|date=July 2025}} {{Use mdy dates|date=August 2023}} {{Infobox NRHP | name = Chowan County Courthouse | nrhp_type = nhl | image = Chowan County Courthouse.JPG | caption = Main façade of Chowan County Courthouse | location = 101 S Broad St.,<br/>Edenton, North Carolina | coordinates = {{coord|36|3|37|N|76|36|29|W|display=inline,title}} | locmapin = North Carolina#USA | area = | built = 1767 | architect = | architecture = Georgian | designated_nrhp_type = April 15, 1970<ref name="nhlsum">{{cite web|url=http://tps.cr.nps.gov/nhl/detail.cfm?ResourceId=954&ResourceType=Building|title=Chowan County Courthouse|accessdate=2008-02-23|work=National Historic Landmark summary listing|publisher=National Park Service|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070302081226/http://tps.cr.nps.gov/nhl/detail.cfm?ResourceId=954&ResourceType=Building|archive-date=2007-03-02|url-status=dead}}</ref> | added = April 15, 1970<ref name="nris">{{NRISref|2007a}}</ref> | refnum = 70000447 }}
The '''Chowan County Courthouse''' is a historic courthouse in Edenton, the county seat of Chowan County, North Carolina. Built in 1767, it is one of the finest examples of public Georgian architecture in the American South. It was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1970.<ref name="nhlsum"/><ref name="nrhpinv2">{{Cite journal|title=National Register of Historic Places Inventory-Nomination: Chowan County Court House|url={{NHLS url|id=70000447}} |format=pdf|date=March 12, 1975 |author=Polly M. Rettig and Charles W. Snell |publisher=National Park Service}} and {{NHLS url|id=70000447|title=''Accompanying three photos, exterior and interior, from 1969 and 1940''|photos=y}} {{small|(32 KB)}}</ref>
==Description and history== The old Chowan County Courthouse is located in downtown Edenton, at the northwest corner of East King and Court Streets. It is separated from the city waterfront by a one-block park. It is a two-story, T-shaped Georgian style building. Its brickwork is laid in Flemish bond. It has a one-story semicircular apse at its center rear and features a two-stage wooden cupola with ogival roof surmounted by a tall-weathervane. The interior has a large courtroom on the ground floor, and a ballroom on the second. The building has seen only relatively modest alterations.<ref name="nrhpinv2"/>
Edenton was settled in 1658 and incorporated in 1712, and is counted as the first permanent European settlement in North Carolina. Its first courthouse, built in 1719, was also the seat of the colonial assembly, and was located on the land of the park. This courthouse was commissioned to be built in 1766, and completed in 1767, and its design has been attributed to Gilbert Leigh, who was living in Edenton at the time of its construction. It has also been attributed to John Hawks, who designed Tryon Palace in New Bern, was active in North Carolina at the time.<ref name="nrhpinv2"/> It is the oldest courthouse building in North Carolina.{{sfn|Barlow|2012|p=3}}
The courthouse is one of several sites of [https://web.archive.org/web/20090615051123/http://www.nchistoricsites.org/iredell/ Historic Edenton]. Other historic sites open for tour include the James Iredell House, Roanoke River Light, Barker House, Cupola House and St. Paul's Church.
==See also== *List of National Historic Landmarks in North Carolina *National Register of Historic Places listings in Chowan County, North Carolina
==References== {{Reflist}}
== Works cited == * {{Citation| last = Barlow| first = Ava| title = Architecture Styles in North Carolina Courthouses| publisher = North Carolina Administrative Office of the Courts| date = 2012| url = https://www.nccourts.gov/assets/documents/publications/Brief-History-of-Architecture-in-Courthouses-05292019.pdf?VersionId=IhuKP7C4M2HeyzEuVmtHM6fqB_pXXBFF}}
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See Wikipedia:External links and Wikipedia:Spam for further details =============================================================================== --> {{Commons category}} *{{HABS |survey=NC-12-G-3 |id=nc0137|title=Chowan County Courthouse, East King Street, Edenton, Chowan County, NC|photos=4|dwgs=5 |data=2}} <!-- EDITORS NOTE: Please follow the WP: EL guideline where possible and consider discussing on the talk page. Thank you. -->
{{NHLs in NC}} {{National Register of Historic Places in North Carolina|state=collapsed}} {{portal bar|Architecture|British Empire|Politics|National Register of Historic Places|North Carolina}} {{authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Chowan County Courthouse}} Category:1767 establishments in North Carolina Category:Clock towers in North Carolina Category:Courthouses on the National Register of Historic Places in North Carolina Category:Brick buildings and structures in the United States Category:Colonial architecture in North Carolina Category:County courthouses in North Carolina Category:Georgian architecture in North Carolina Category:Government buildings completed in 1767 Category:Historic American Buildings Survey in North Carolina Category:National Historic Landmarks in North Carolina Category:National Register of Historic Places in Chowan County, North Carolina Category:North Carolina in the American Revolution Category:Museums in Chowan County, North Carolina Category:Tourist attractions in Edenton, North Carolina Category:Brick buildings and structures in North Carolina