Brooks County Courthouse is located in

Falfurrias Falfurrias ( ) is a city in and the county seat of Brooks County, Texas. Its population was 4,981 at the 2010 United States Census, 2010 census, in a county that in the same census was just over 7,000. The town is named for founder Edward Cunningh ...

, in the

U.S. state In the United States, a state is a constituent political entity, of which there are 50. Bound together in a political union, each state holds governmental jurisdiction over a separate and defined geographic territory where it shares its sover ...

Texas Texas (, ; Spanish language, Spanish: ''Texas'', ''Tejas'') is a state in the South Central United States, South Central region of the United States. At 268,596 square miles (695,662 km2), and with more than 29.1 million residents in 2 ...

. The structure was designed by

Alfred Giles Alfred Giles may refer to: * Alfred Giles (architect) (1853–1920), Texas architect * Alfred Giles (civil engineer) (1816–1895), British civil engineer and politician * Alfred Giles (explorer) (1846–1931), South Australian bushman, drover and ...

in 1914 in the

Classic revival Neoclassicism (also spelled Neo-classicism) was a Western cultural movement in the decorative and visual arts, literature, theatre, music, and architecture that drew inspiration from the art and culture of classical antiquity. Neoclassicism was ...

style. Prior to the erection of the brick county courthouse, local government housed itself in rented space. The courthouse was named a

Recorded Texas Historic Landmark Recorded Texas Historic Landmark (RTHL) is a designation awarded by the Texas Historical Commission for historically and architecturally significant properties in the U.S. state of Texas. RTHL is a legal designation and the highest honor the sta ...

in 1977. Renovation began on the courthouse in 2006.

First attempt to build a courthouse

After Brooks County was formed from Starr County in 1911, officials met first in a hall, and later in a two-story building in downtown Falfurrias. The county commissioners court set a November, 1912, date for holding a bond election for a courthouse and new roads. Although the bonds passed 344 to 9, the Texas attorney general failed to approve the bond issue, in part because precinct 4 voters were actively seeking to separate from Brooks County. Brooks County voters would not vote on the issue again until after their reorganization—after the legislature allowed precinct 4 voters to separate and create Jim Hogg County. San Antonio architect Atlee B. Ayres was to design the structure.Texas Historical Commission. Application for Submission of Brooks County Courthouse for inclusion on the National Register of Historic Places, https://atlas.thc.state.tx.us/NR/pdfs/12000193/12000193.pdf

The 1914 courthouse

Brooks County voters voted again on the bond issue in February 1914, and it passed. Noted Texas architect Alfred Giles was selected to design the courthouse. He was actively involved in three other courthouse projects in the region at the time, Cameron County, Jim Wells, and Kleberg Counties. Judge James A. Brooks, who had been a state representative instrumental in helping Brooks County separate from Starr County, was honored at the structure's opening ceremonies. Opening day was celebrated with a public picnic and a parade led by the local high school band. Brooks County was named after Judge Brooks, who was also a captain in the Texas Rangers. The courthouse was added to the

National Register of Historic Places The National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) is the United States federal government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures and objects deemed worthy of preservation for their historical significance or "great artistic v ...

on April 10, 2012.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Brooks County Courthouse Government buildings completed in 1914 Buildings and structures in Brooks County, Texas County courthouses in Texas Recorded Texas Historic Landmarks Neoclassical architecture in Texas Courthouses on the National Register of Historic Places in Texas National Register of Historic Places in Brooks County, Texas

First attempt to build a courthouse

The 1914 courthouse

See also

References