Richmond County Courthouse (Staten Island)
The Richmond County Courthouse is a historic building in the St. George area of Staten Island, at 18 Richmond Terrace. Opened in 1919, it houses Richmond County’s courts, including the Surrogate’s Court and the Matrimonial Parts of the State Supreme Court for the 13th Judicial District. It sits beside Borough Hall and is opposite the St. George Ferry Terminal.
Construction began in 1913 but was slowed by World War I. The courthouse opened on November 3, 1919, replacing the older 1837 Third County Courthouse. Inside, it originally housed a Supreme Court justice, a Surrogate, the County Clerk, and the District Attorney, with county records and a law library added in 1920. The District Attorney left in 1979, and the County Clerk moved across the street in 1999, with the law library following in 2000. In 2015 most Supreme Court parts moved to a new courthouse at 26 Central Avenue, while the Matrimonial Parts stayed.
Architecturally, the building is neoclassical with Renaissance Revival touches and a Greek Revival portico. Designed by Carrère & Hastings, it forms an L-shape on a hill above the harbor, sharing the block with Borough Hall and separated from it by a formal French garden. A grand staircase from Richmond Terrace leads up to a temple-front with six Corinthian columns.
The Richmond County Courthouse is a New York City Landmark and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The property covers about 5 acres, including the neighboring Borough Hall.
This page was last edited on 3 February 2026, at 08:29 (CET).