Goliad County Courthouse Historic District
Roughly bounded by E. Franklin, S. Washington, E. Fannin, and S. Chilton Sts., Goliad, TXThe Goliad County Courthouse, together with the surrounding pioneer Texas, Victorian, and early twentieth-century structures, provide one of the most complete examples of the early courthouse square in Texas. Dominated by the limestone Second Empire-style courthouse constructed in 1894, the district contains one and two-story structures of brick, masonry, or wood frame construction. Because modern intrusions are rare, the square retains an ambiance reminiscent of Goliad of the first quarter of this century.
One of the three oldest municipalities in Texas, Goliad was the site of an Aramana Indian village named Santa Dorotea when the mission Nuestra Senora del Espirito Santo de Zuniga and the presidio Nuestra Senora de Loreto were moved there in 1749.
Strategically situated on a rocky rise above the San Antonio River, the presidio was occupied by Spanish troops until the Mexican Revolution of 1810-12. "La Bahia" evolved as the popular name of both the presidio and the mission, but in 1829, the Mexican Congress of Coahuila and Texas declared the settlement a town, to be called "Goliad" in honor of a patriot priest of the Mexican Revolution. The newly declared municipality owed its importance to the nearby port of Copano, just forty miles distant, which was challenging Matamoros for the lucrative Mexican interior trade. Goliad contributed expert smugglers as well as oxcarts and drivers to provide transportation between the port and the market.
The proximity to shipping also established the strategic importance of Goliad from the outset of the Texas Revolution. In October of 1835, the garrison protecting the supplies of Mexican General Cos was captured by Texan forces commanded by George M. Collinsworth and Ben Milam. Thus isolated from supplies and reinforcements by way of the sea, the weakened Mexican Army was eventually defeated.
On December 20, 1835, the citizens of Goliad gathered for the reading of the Goliad Declaration of Independence, asserting that the former department of Texas ought to be a "free, sovereign, and independent state." The document anticipated by two days Stephen F. Austin's pronouncement favoring independence made at Velasco, and preceded the Texas Declaration of Independence by seventy-two days.
The following year a retreating Texas army under Colonel James W. Fannin was overtaken by a large Mexican force outside the city. Returned to Goliad, some three hundred and forty men were executed in what became known as the "Goliad Massacre."
After independence, the county of Goliad, named for the small, historic city, was organized as one of the original counties of the Republic of Texas. The area was practically deserted for several years as many of the Mexican settlers retreated south. The Anglo-American settlement did not begin until 1840 and in that same year, the town of Goliad was incorporated by the Congress of the Republic.
The existing courthouse, the fourth built for Goliad County, was completed in 1894 by the Texas construction firm of Martin, Byrnes, and Johnston, and the design is reputed to be the creation of noted Texas architect Alfred Giles. Along with the Caldwell County Courthouse (1893), almost a facsimile, the two are considered to be exceptionally elegant examples of the Second Empire Style as applied to public buildings in Texas. The visual strength of the mansard roof combined with the soaring thrust of the central dome provided an imposing symbol of the people of Goliad County. Indicative of the pride and excitement associated with the courthouse were the ceremonies contrived to dedicate the new edifice. Excursion trains carried visitors from about South Texas and as far away as Houston for a celebration of orations and barbecue.
The authority manifested in the courthouse is underscored by the "Hanging Tree" on the adjoining lawn. At various times from 1846 to 1870 court was held beneath this tree and capital sentences were quickly carried out by means of a convenient limb. During the 1857 violence known as the "Cart War", about seventy men were killed, some on this tree in groups as large as five.
Other buildings in the district have also played an especially important role in the life of the community and county. The Old Market House, a National Register property, is a one-story, steepled, wood frame structure. Built by the city in 1871, the space was rented to ranchers and farmers to sell meat and produce. 1886 it was converted to a firehouse, the first in Goliad.
A steeple added in 1890 housed a new bell to sound alarms and mark the hours of the night. Until 1964 it was the firehouse for the local volunteer firefighters. It has since operated in the dual capacity of home to the City Chamber of Commerce and a museum of local history.
The Masonic Temple Building was constructed for the Goliad Lodge No. 94, chartered in 1852. All meetings have been held in this two-story, rubble-stone building since it was completed in 1854. For many years the Goliad post office and city hall occupied the first level.
Other structures around the square have housed banks, commercial enterprises, and professional offices. Many were built to accommodate business activities on the first level and provide living quarters on the upper level for the owner. A number of the buildings have stood vacant in recent years. But new interest in the Square has brought a flourish of activity. Local citizens are presently organizing to coordinate a comprehensive restoration effort. Placement of the Goliad County Courthouse District on the National Register would be an additional incentive for restoration.
Listed in National Register of Historic Places in 1976.
The National Register of Historic Places is the official list of the Nation’s historic places worthy of preservation. Authorized by the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, the National Park Service’s National Register of Historic Places is part of a national program to coordinate and support public and private efforts to identify, evaluate, and protect America’s historic and archeological resources.
In 1829, the Mexican government established Goliad County as a municipality as part of the Mexican state of Coahuila y Tejas. The town of Goliad was established as the county seat, and it quickly became a center for trade and commerce. However, tensions grew between the Mexican government and American settlers in Texas, eventually leading to the Texas Revolution.
One of the most well-known events in Goliad County's history occurred during the Texas Revolution in 1836. After the fall of the Alamo, Colonel James Fannin and his troops were captured by Mexican forces and held in the presidio at Goliad. In a tragic turn of events, Fannin and his men were executed in what became known as the Goliad Massacre, a significant event that further fueled the desire for Texas independence.
After gaining independence, Goliad County continued to grow and develop. The area became an important hub for ranching and agriculture, particularly in the production of cattle, cotton, and peanuts. Today, Goliad County is known for its rich historical heritage and its thriving tourism industry, drawing visitors with its impressive historic sites and events that commemorate the region's past.
Goliad County Timeline
This timeline provides a glimpse into the major events and milestones that have shaped the history of Goliad County, Texas.
- 1821 - Mexican Revolutionary General Martín Perfecto de Cos granted land to empresario Martín De León in what is now Goliad County
- 1829 - The Mexican government granted the De León Colony rights to settle in the area
- 1836 - Goliad County was officially established as a municipality of the Republic of Texas
- 1836 - The Goliad Massacre occurred during the Texas Revolution, where prisoners of war from the Battle of Coleto were executed by the Mexican army
- 1846 - The county was formally organized and named Goliad County after the presidio and the Spanish fort located in the area
- 1850s - The county experienced economic growth with cattle ranching and agriculture becoming prominent industries
- 1881 - The San Antonio and Aransas Pass Railway built a line through the county, leading to further development
- 20th century - Goliad County continued to thrive with the discovery of oil and gas reserves in the area
- 2000 - Goliad County celebrated its 175th anniversary