AUSTIN, Texas—The Castro County Courthouse in Dimmitt was recently listed in the National Register of Historic Places. Noted for its historical and architectural significance, the courthouse becomes the first property in Castro County to achieve National Register status.
Built in 1939 with funding from the federal Public Works Administration (PWA), the Castro County Courthouse represents a critical period in the county's history, as it emerged in this era as a productive agricultural center on the Texas High Plains. An earlier 1908 courthouse suffering structural problems was replaced by the newer building more appropriate to the scope and needs of local government.
Since its completion, the courthouse has served continuously as the center of county government, adapting to community needs through a well-regarded 1971 addition that nearly doubled the building's size while maintaining its architectural integrity.
Designed by the Amarillo architectural firm Townes & Funk, the Castro County Courthouse exemplifies Moderne Classical design, a style that combined scaled-back classical elements with modernistic forms popular for Depression-era public buildings. Architect Rabey G. Funk is credited with the design, which stands as one of at least 17 PWA-funded courthouses constructed in Texas between 1935 and 1940.
The 1971 addition by Lubbock architect Laverne H. Kirby respected the original building's character-defining features while providing expanded facilities including modern jail space, enlarged offices, and improved public accessibility.
The courthouse is well situated on a full city block in downtown Dimmitt—both an anchor and economic amplifier for the community’s historic downtown.
Castro County government has worked for many years with the Texas Historical Commission (THC) to preserve this iconic part of county history. The courthouse has already benefited from THC preservation programs, including a planning grant from the THC's Texas Historic Courthouse Preservation Program, and the county is eligible to apply for additional funding.
The National Register of Historic Places is the nation's official list of cultural resources deemed worthy of preservation. Authorized under the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, the National Register is part of a federal program to coordinate and support public and private efforts to identify, evaluate, and protect the country's historic and archeological resources. The National Register includes more than 3,300 listings in Texas.
To learn more about the National Register of Historic Places, contact the THC's History Programs Division at 512-463-5853 or visit thc.texas.gov.
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About the Texas Historical Commission
The Texas Historical Commission is the state's official historic preservation agency. It preserves, operates, and manages 42 state historic sites, the Texas Heritage Trails Program, Texas Main Street Program, Texas Historic Courthouse Preservation Program, and many more heritage tourism and historic preservation initiatives across the state. The Texas Historical Commission's mission is to protect and preserve the state’s historic and prehistoric resources for the use, education, enjoyment, and economic benefit of present and future generations. For more information, visit thc.texas.gov.