Dimmit County Courthouse
Public Square, Carrizo Springs, TXThe Dimmit County Courthouse possesses historical significance. It has long been a prominent building in the county, and it has been the center of county activities for over three-quarters of a century. Today, it continues to serve its original purpose.
In 1858 the Texas Legislature created Dimmit County from several other counties, but the new government area remained unorganized as a part of Maverick County until 1880. Dimmit County was named for Philip Dimmit, 1 a native of Pennsylvania who participated in several Texan-Mexican skirmishes.
During the Mexican period of Texas history, several settlements were attempted within the present limits of the county, but these failed. Just before the Civil War, another attempt at settlement was made by John Townsend, a Negro, but his colony was thwarted by the Indians. In 1865, the first permanent settlement was made at Carrizo Springs by several families from other sections of the state. These were joined by Mexican peonies and vaqueros. Eventually, stock raising became the county's most vital industry. Although settlement increased during the last decades of the twentieth century, at the time the first permanent courthouse was erected, Dimmit County's population did not exceed one thousand.
Several years after the county was organized, Alfred Giles, a San Antonio architect, was commissioned to design a new courthouse and prepare plans and specifications. Bids were received late in 1883 but all were rejected. Subsequently, Giles plans were rejected and the plans of J.C. Breeding and Sons of San Antonio were adopted. G. Thompson was awarded the contract for a stone building for $11,800, and Breeding was retained to supervise construction. Late in 1884, the furniture was installed and the building was accepted by the commissioners' court. Subsequently, the public square was landscaped and an iron fence was installed.
In 1925 it was determined that the courthouse was too small and in "unsanitary" condition. Subsequently, the building was enlarged and new plumbing and steam heating was installed.
Listed in National Register of Historic Places in 1984.
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.