Mathews County Courthouse Square

Mathews County was formed in 1790 from Gloucester County and named for Thomas Mathews, of Norfolk, a soldier of the Revolution who was then Speaker of the Virginia House of Delegates. A local builder, Richard Billups, constructed the courthouse between 1792 and 1795. Other early buildings in the square include a jail (ca. 1795) and clerk's office (1859). The courthouse square is listed in the Virginia Landmarks Register and the National Register of Historic Places.