Atascosa County Courthouse
A Mission Revival masterpiece finished in red-brown brick, crowned with towers and a Spanish-tiled roof, this 1912 courthouse stands alone as Texas’s only example of the style in civic architecture.
At a glance
Built in 1912 and designed by San Antonio architect Henry T. Phelps, the Atascosa County Courthouse is the fifth courthouse to serve Atascosa County government. The structure was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1997. Its circular plot of land is unusual among Texas courthouses, which typically occupy town squares.
History
Atascosa County was established in 1856 with a log courthouse in Amphion. The county built successive courthouses—a frame building in Pleasanton (1857), a larger frame structure (1868), and a red-stone building (1885) that later served as Pleasanton City Hall when the county seat relocated to Jourdanton.
The Gordon Jones Construction Company of San Antonio won the contract for the current courthouse with a bid of $65,000. Originally designed with an open lower floor for wood storage, the space was enclosed in the late 1920s to provide additional office area.
What you see
The Mission Revival style building showcases towers, balconies, and a Spanish-tiled roof. Red-brown brick and cast stone form the exterior, creating warm, earthy tones characteristic of the regional style. The circular site plan distinguishes it from the grid-based courthouse squares typical across Texas.
Cultural significance
The Atascosa County Courthouse stands as the sole surviving example of Mission Revival style courthouse architecture in Texas. Its distinctive design reflects early 20th-century regional preferences and represents a significant departure from the dominant Victorian and Classical Revival courthouse designs of the era.
Key facts
- Country: United States
- City: Jourdanton, Texas
- Completed: 1912
- Architect: Henry T. Phelps (San Antonio)
- Style: Mission Revival
- National Register: December 30, 1997
- Coordinates: 28.91944444, −98.54583333
Practical information & getting there
The courthouse is located on Circle Drive in Jourdanton, in south Texas. Check locally for current visiting hours and any restrictions on public access to the building interior.
Sources & resources
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