Brunswick County Courthouse in Bolivia, North Carolina
Laurie and I like riding our Gold Wing motorcycle. But it is easy to get into a rut and just ride the same roads. So to force ourselves to ride to places we would not normally visit we made a goal to visit and photograph all 100 North Carolina courthouses within 1 year.
As usual, we got a little behind. We started in July 2015 and finished 99 out of 100 by June 2018. The last courthouse was in our home county of Wake and it took us until Feb 2021 to get that final one. But we made it! This blog is about one of those visits.
Many NC courthouses were added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1979. The nomination form has some interesting facts about the various courthouse styles over the years.
Courthouse Information
Wikipedia says the following about the courthouse:
Brunswick County Courthouse is a historic courthouse building located at Southport, Brunswick County, North Carolina. It was built about 1844, and is a plain, two-story, stuccoed brick building three bays wide by seven bays long.[2]
It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1979.[1] It is located in the Southport Historic District.
County Information
The North Carolina History Project lists the following information for this county:
Culled out of New Hanover and Bladen Counties in 1764, Brunswick County is the southernmost county in North Carolina. Brunswick was named in honor of King George I, the Duke of Brunswick and Lunenberg. The county seat has been relocated numerous times from Brunswick Town, to Lockwood Folly, to Smithville (now known as Southport), and then finally to its current location at the Bolivia township.
Brunswick County's easternmost border is the Atlantic Coast, and its beaches and communities attract tourists and vacationers from across the Unites States. Sunset Beach, Oak Island, Holden Beach, Bald Head Island, and Ocean Isle Beach are local and tourist favorites. In addition to the county's numerous beaches, the Cape Fear River is another geographical feature that makes the county's western border. Also, the shipping route of the Intracoastal Waterway meanders through Brunswick County as well.
Brunswick County has many sites that offer a glimpse into the region's colonial and Civil War history. The Bald Head Island Lighthouse ("Old Baldy"), the Brunswick Inn, Fort Johnston, and the Orton Plantation are just a few places of historical importance. Also, there are several museums and cultural groups such as Southport Maritime Museum, the Bald Head Island Conservatory, and the Brunswick County Historical Society.
Brunswick County's fishing industry has had the most impact on the county's economy, but agriculture and manufacturing have been on the rise in recent years. During the late 1700s and throughout the 1800s, Brunswick County led the state in rice production. Many farmers in the area grow corn, berries, tobacco, and raise different types of livestock. Also, several manufacturers within the region are involved in lumber, polyester, and citric acid production.
Our Experience
I was confused about this courthouse until I wrote this post. Everything online says the county seat of Brunswick County is Bolivia. But the historic courthouse we visited is in Southport. Seems the county seat was moved in 1977 and there is a modern courthouse in Bolivia. But I prefer to visit the historic courthouses when possible which may not be the actual modern courthouse. So I am still going to count this visit. Southport was a very touristy kind of town.
Wikipedia has this to say about Bolivia:
The town was settled by European Americans in the 1890s and was incorporated in 1911. One theory about the name is that many boxes being shipped from the area said "Bolivia", referring to the country in South America, and the people liked that name.
National Airlines Flight 2511 blew up over Bolivia on January 6, 1960. The DC-6B was destroyed by an explosion of dynamite.
When U.S. 17 was widened to four lanes, a bypass was constructed around Bolivia; intended to improve traffic, the highway drew away visitors and retail customers, causing an economic decline in the town. In 1977, the county decided to move the county seat of Brunswick County from Southport to Bolivia. Being a center of government operations stimulated other businesses and had helped Bolivia build its businesses.
Brunswick County Courthouse in Bolivia, North Carolina
Brunswick County Courthouse in Bolivia, North Carolina
Brunswick County Courthouse in Bolivia, North Carolina
Greg, Donna
Brunswick County Courthouse in Bolivia, North Carolina
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