Built in 1905 as a replacement to the 1821 structure, the government of the Sumter County contracted the esteemed William Augustus Edwards to design and help build the Sumter County Courthouse. This is why this public building is now one of the nine courthouses that Edwards designed in South Carolina.

The Sumter County Courthouse is mostly noted for its architecture. It was designed in the I-plan pattern, which was popular during the time the structure was built, but it was given a great twist by the architect. Aside from the I-plan, it is also of the Beaux Arts style, made possible with some tweaking on the common design.

The Sumter County Courthouse was enlarged and remodelled in the 1960, but most of the original elements stay intact, allowing it to land a spot in the National Register of Historic Places.