New York Courts located within the National Register of Historic Places
Throughout the United States there are locations that are worthy of preservation, be it because of their signifigance in history or there unique architecture. These such locations are added to the National Register of Historic Places. In this article, we would like to highlight the historic locations found in New York, but more specifically, locations that are included on the register, but also function as the court house for their respective area. Below is a table of the different court houses in New York, including a photo of the court house, the year it was added to the register, and a small description of how the location came to be on the register.
| Location | Court Name | Image of Courthouse | History |
|---|---|---|---|
| Genesee County | Alexander Town Court | The Alexander Town Court is a three-story cobblestone building that was erected in the 1830's. It started as a private school and then was later turned into a public school. Ultimately, the building became the Alexander Town Court. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1973. | |
| Cayuga County | Auburn City Court | The Old Post Office and Courthouse was built between 1888 - 1890 and designed by the Office of the Supervising Architect for the U.S. Treasury. The structure would undergo two more design phases in 1913 and 1937. It is a historic and majestic structure that, in 1991, was added to the National Register of Historic Places. | |
| Chemung County | Elmira City Court | The Elmira Civic Historic District is located in downtown Elmira. This area is where many of the government buildings were built in Elmira's early history. One such building is the Chemung County Courthouse Complex. The district was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1980. | |
| Chemung County | Chemung County Courthouse Complex (Elmira) | The Chemung County Courthouse Complex at 210–228 Lake Street in Elmira comprises the courthouse, District Attorney's and Treasurer's Building, County Clerk's Office, and Courthouse Annex, built from 1836 through 1899. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1971. Reference: NPS; Wikipedia; Wikipedia (Chemung County NRHP). | |
| Chenango County | Chenango County Courthouse District (Norwich) | The Chenango County Courthouse District in Norwich is a historic district between Hayes and Mechanic Streets, Maple Avenue, and City Hall that includes the county courthouse and related government buildings. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1975. Reference: NPS; Wikipedia; Wikipedia (Chenango County NRHP). | |
| Clinton County | Clinton County Courthouse Complex (Plattsburgh) | The Clinton County Courthouse Complex at 135 Margaret Street in Plattsburgh houses the county courts and related offices. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1982. Reference: NPS; Wikipedia (Clinton County NRHP). | |
| Columbia County | Tracy Memorial Village Hall Complex (Chatham Village Court) | The Tracy Memorial Village Hall Complex at 77 Main Street in Chatham is a 1913 Neoclassical village hall that houses Chatham Village Court. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2016. Reference: NPS; Wikipedia (Columbia County NRHP). | |
| Cortland County | Cortland County Courthouse (Cortland) | ,_Cortland,_New_York.jpg) |
The Cortland County Courthouse at Courthouse Park in Cortland houses the county courts. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1974. Reference: NPS; Wikipedia (Cortland County NRHP). |
| Delaware County | Delaware County Courthouse Square District (Delhi) | The Delaware County Courthouse Square District in Delhi is centered on the courthouse and county buildings bounded by 2nd, Church, Main, and Court Streets. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1973. Reference: NPS; Wikipedia (Delaware County NRHP). | |
| Dutchess County | Dutchess County Court House (Poughkeepsie) | The Dutchess County Court House at 10 Market Street in Poughkeepsie is a 1903 courthouse that serves county-level court functions and is the third courthouse on that site. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1982. Reference: NPS; Wikipedia (Poughkeepsie NRHP); Wikipedia. | |
| Erie County | County and City Hall (Buffalo) | County and City Hall (also known as Erie County Hall) at 92 Franklin Street in Buffalo is a historic granite courthouse complex that now houses Erie County court offices and records. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1976. Reference: NPS; Wikipedia (Buffalo NRHP); Wikipedia. | |
| Franklin County | Brighton Town Hall (Brighton Town Court) |  |
Brighton Town Hall at 12 County Road 31 in Franklin County is a historic municipal building listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2003. The Brighton Town Court page on this site lists the same physical address, tying the court to this historic town hall location. Reference: NPS; Wikipedia (Franklin County NRHP); Brighton Town Court page. |
| Rensselaer County | Hoosick Town Court | The Hoosick Falls Armory was built in 1889 and designed by Isaac G. Perry. At one time, the New York National Guard was based in the armory. Now the armory is home to the Hoosick Armory Youth Center and Community Coalition. The armory was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1995. | |
| Suffolk County | Old Field Village Court | Atop the village hall rests the Old Field Point Light, a lighthouse that was built in 1823 and finished in 1824. In 2024, The lighthouse was added to the National Register of Historic Places. | |
| Wayne County | Palmyra Village Court | The Palmyra Village Historic District is made up of 207 buildings, as well as a few sites and structures. Most of the buuildings were built between 1830 and 1890. The Village Hall of Palmyra is one such building found within the historic district. The district was added to the the National Register of Historic Places in 2009. | |
| Westchester County | Somers Town Court | A man named Hachaliah Bailey bought an African elephant “Old Bet" with the intention to use it for farm work. The elephant attracted curious onlookers which led Bailey to purchase more exotic animals to show off, for a price. After the elephant died in 1827, Bailey built the Elephant Hotel in her honor. The hotel was meant to serve as a memorial to the elephant. According to legend, Old Bet is buried in the front yard. In 2005, the hotel became a National Historic Landmark. Today it serves as the town hall and is the location of the Somers Town Court. | |
| Essex County | Ticonderoga Town Court | The Community Building was built in 1927. It is a two story building, designed with a neo-Georgian style. The building currently serves as the town hall for Ticonderoga. The building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1988. | |
| Essex County | Essex County Municipal Complex (Elizabethtown) | .jpg) |
The Essex County Municipal Complex at 7551-7559 Court Street in Elizabethtown includes the historic county courthouse (built in 1824) as the core of the county government complex. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2016. Reference: NPS; Wikipedia (Essex County NRHP). |
| Schoharie County | Wright Town Court | The court is located in the historic Gallupville House. Initially built in 1872 as a hotel, it served several different purposes over the years. It currently serves as a town hall, town court, and for other community purposes. It was added to the register in 1979. | |
| Otsego County | Otsego County Court (Cooperstown) | The Otsego County Courthouse at 193 Main Street in Cooperstown was built in 1880 and designed by Syracuse architect Archimedes Russell. The polychrome brick building features a gable roof, projecting pavilions, a tower, and a large stained glass window on the front facade. It replaced three earlier courthouses that had served the county since 1791. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1972. Reference: NPS; Wikipedia. | |
| Schuyler County | Schuyler County Court (Watkins Glen) | The Schuyler County Courthouse Complex on North Franklin Street in Watkins Glen includes a two-story brick courthouse built in 1855, with an inset square tower, ogee roof, weather vane, and a pedimented porch with Doric columns. The complex also includes the former Sheriff's residence and Clerk's office. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1974. Reference: NPS; Wikipedia. | |
| Schoharie County | Schoharie County Court (Schoharie Village) | The Schoharie County Courthouse on Main Street in Schoharie Village was built in 1870 of cut limestone in the Italianate style, with a shallow hipped roof, ornate pyramidal cupola, and corner turrets. The complex includes the 1934 County Clerk's Office; both buildings remain in active use. The complex was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1995. Reference: Wikipedia. | |
| Albany County | James T. Foley United States Courthouse (Albany) | The James T. Foley United States Courthouse at 445 Broadway in Albany was designed by Electus D. Litchfield in the Art Deco style and completed in 1934. It houses the United States District Court for the Northern District of New York and other federal offices. The building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2020 (listed as United States Post Office, Court House, and Custom House). Reference: NPS; Wikipedia (Albany NRHP). | |
| Albany County | New York State Court of Appeals (Albany) | The New York State Court of Appeals Building at 20 Eagle Street in Albany was built between 1834 and 1842 and is the seat of the state's highest court. The Greek Revival structure uses all three classical orders in its colonnaded facade and rotunda. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1971. Reference: NPS; Wikipedia (Albany NRHP). | |
| Bronx County | Bronx Borough Courthouse | The Bronx Borough Courthouse, at East 161st Street and Brook Avenue in the Bronx, was completed in 1909 and designed by Michael J. Garvin in the Beaux-Arts style as a major civic building for the borough. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1982. Reference: NPS; Wikipedia; Wikipedia (Bronx NRHP). | |
| Bronx County | Bronx County Courthouse | The Bronx County Courthouse at 851 Grand Concourse was built in stages beginning in 1905 and is a prominent Beaux-Arts courthouse that has long housed county-level court functions in the Bronx. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1983. Reference: NPS; Wikipedia; Wikipedia (Bronx NRHP). | |
| Broome County | Broome County Courthouse (Binghamton) | The Broome County Courthouse on Court Street in Binghamton has served as the county courthouse since the 19th century. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1973. Reference: NPS; Wikipedia; Wikipedia (Broome County NRHP). | |
| Broome County | U.S. Post Office and Courthouse (Binghamton) | The U.S. Post Office and Courthouse at 15 Henry Street in Binghamton was completed in 1935 and designed by Conrad and Cummings in a classically influenced modern style. It houses federal court and postal functions and was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2020. Reference: NPS; Wikipedia (Broome County NRHP). | |
| Cayuga County | Cayuga County Courthouse and Clerk's Office (Auburn) | The Cayuga County Courthouse and Clerk's Office at 152–154 Genesee Street in Auburn houses the county courts and clerk. The building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1991. Reference: NPS; Wikipedia; Wikipedia (Cayuga County NRHP). |
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