• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
RuralSWAlabama

RuralSWAlabama

Rural Southwest Alabama: Attractions

  • Region Map
  • By Attraction
  • By County
  • By Town
  • Open for Tours
  • More
  • Show Search
Hide Search

Hale County Courthouse at Greensboro, AL (c. 1908)

Historic/Scenic Courthouses | Greensboro in Hale County  

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Hale County was created in 1867 with most of it being taken from Greene County.  Greensboro was selected as the county seat.  Greensboro citizens had promised to provide a courthouse and jail free of charge if selected.  To fulfill this commitment, Greensboro’s city council purchased the building known as Salem Baptist Church which was vacant and this became the first Hale County Courthouse.  In 1907 this historic building was torn down and a new courthouse was built.  After the addition of a clock and a few other extras, the final price of the courthouse was near $50,000. The building was completed in May 1908, and the first session of court was held in the new building that same spring.

On March 4, 1935, fire destroyed the upper floor of the courthouse. Believed to have been caused by a defective flue, the fire spread quickly.  The old belfry, with its big clock, collapsed first and then the rest of the roof. Greensboro’s volunteer fire department, with help from Demopolis and Selma, were able to stop the fire.  On the lower floor, there was only water damage which cost $3,700 to repair. The reconstruction of the second floor was about $30,000.  The new Seth Thomas clock cost $1717.50.  The courthouse clock still sounds the hour and half hour.

The Hale County Courthouse is located on Main Street at the east end of downtown Greensboro (Hale County Courthouse – Google Maps).

Source:  Historic Hale County, published by The Greensboro Watchman.

Posted 11/27/10, Last Updated: 01/12/22

Tags: alabama, black belt, courthouse, greensboro, hale county

Explore more

About This Website

Welcome to rural southwest Alabama. This website is dedicated to twelve counties located in rural southwest Alabama which includes a large portion of Alabama’s Black Belt area. This region is known for its rich and diverse heritage, historic homes and churches, and natural beauty. This website contains details about historic and interesting places that you will find in this area of Alabama.

PLEASE NOTE THAT MOST OF THE HOMES INCLUDED ARE PRIVATE RESIDENCES AND, UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED, ARE DRIVE BY ONLY.

We hope that you enjoy this website.

Be sure to like our Facebook page

Dedicated to the memory of Stacy Milstead Henson (1978-2008) & Inez “Sis” Watts (1924-2007).

Footer

Copyright © 2025

  • Facebook
  • Instagram