[3] Construction of the Richmond County Courthouse was begun on December 27, 1913, but was delayed by the advent of World War I.

The building finally opened on November 3, 1919, to replace the 1837 Third County Courthouse several miles away.

[4] The Supreme Court, with the exception of the Matrimonial Parts, moved to the new fifth County Courthouse in late 2015.

Designed by the well-known architectural firm of Carrere and Hastings, who had earlier designed the neighboring 1906 Borough Hall, the building's architectural style has been variously described as Roman-inspired neoclassical,[6] or Renaissance Revival with a Greek Revival portico.

A sweeping flight of stairs leads up from Richmond Terrace to a temple front pediment supported by six large Corinthian columns.