Historic Floyd County Courthouse Destroyed by Fire in Rome, Georgia
A major fire on Monday afternoon almost completely destroyed the 134-year-old Floyd County Courthouse in Rome, Georgia, prompting officials to seek temporary office space for displaced government functions. The courthouse, a landmark in the city, was undergoing renovations at the time of the fire.
The 1892 structure, listed on the National Register of Historic Places, caught fire around 2 p.m. Although a $4 million renovation project was underway, according to Georgia Public Broadcasting. Firefighters battled the blaze for hours, but the interior and the clock tower sustained significant damage.
Evacuation and Response
All 35 employees inside the courthouse were safely evacuated and no injuries were reported, Fox 5 Atlanta reported. County officials are currently working to secure emergency funding to relocate operations, including the offices of the tax commissioner.
The Floyd County Tax Commissioner and Tag Office were located in the building. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
Impact and Future Plans
Former county chairman Wright Bagby emphasized the historical significance of the courthouse, stating, “And that’s a strong part of our history.” He noted the demand to find alternative locations for county functions previously housed in the building and assess the possibility of salvaging any remaining parts of the structure. A county spokesman indicated that the bell tower and non-brick elements were a total loss.
The Floyd County Commissioners are scheduled to meet Tuesday night to discuss the situation and plan next steps. The property is insured through the Association of County Commissioners of Georgia’s insurance trust, according to the county manager as reported by Insurance Journal.
The Floyd County Superior Court is located at 3 Government Plaza, Suite 101, Rome, GA 30161, with a mailing address of P O Box 1110, Rome, GA 30162. The court can be reached by phone at 706-291-5190 and by fax at 706-233-0035. Floyd County Superior Court is part of the Rome Circuit, which aligns with the boundaries of Floyd County and falls within the 7th Judicial Administrative District. Floyd County Superior Court, Georgia’s general jurisdiction trial court, has exclusive constitutional authority to preside over felony cases and cases regarding title to land, divorce and equity.
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