Northampton County was established in 1741 from part of Bertie County, it was named in honor of James Compton, the 5th Earl of Northampton. The county seat, originally called Northampton Courthouse, was renamed Jackson in 1823 to honor Andrew Jackson, then a national hero and soon-to-be president.
Before European settlement, the region was home to the Tuscarora and Meherrin tribes. As settlers arrived--primarily English, Scotch-Irish, Scottish, and French Huguenots--many Native Americans were displaced. The Roanoke River, which winds through the county, served as a vital trade route and attracted immigrants with its fertile soil.
The historic courthouse was completed in 1858 and is a classic example of the Green Revival design. Its temple-form design faces south and features a commanding prostyle tetrastyle portico supported by fluted Ionic columns. These columns, resting on substantial pedestals that rise from the high foundation, lend the building a monumental presence.
The current modern courthouse was completed between 2022 and 2024 and stands a short distance from the historic 1858 Greek Revival Courthouse. They share the address. It is a modern two-story building composed of red brick, glass, and concrete, with a flat roofline and clean, geometric lines. Inside, the courthouse houses both the County Superior Court and County District Court for the 6th Judicial District, which includes neighboring Bertie, Halifax, and Hertford counties.
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