Lynn County Courthouse
Tahoka, Lynn County, Texas
Marker Inscription
In 1876 the Texas legislature created Lynn county, which organized in 1903 with Tahoka as county seat. A two-story frame structure on this site served as courthouse until citizens approved a bond election for the current building in Jul. 1915. Designed by William M. Rice and built by A.Z. Rogers, the three-story building with full basement housed courtrooms, office space and the county jail. Completed in Dec. 1916, the reinforced concrete building with red brick and cast stone veneer exhibits classical revival style in symmetrical facades repeated on opposite sides and porticos with ionic columns.
Erected by Texas Historical Commission
The Story
When Lynn County organized in 1903 with Tahoka as its seat, a simple two-story frame building served as courthouse until voters approved bonds for something grander. Completed in 1916 to William M. Rice's design and built by A.Z. Rogers, the three-story reinforced-concrete building wears red brick and cast-stone Classical Revival detailing, its Ionic-columned porticoes facing all four directions. It anchored county government as the South Plains filled with farms and towns.
Why it matters
The courthouse marks the settlement and organization of the Texas South Plains, where county seats rose as the last open range gave way to farming communities.
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Related people
- · William M. Rice
- · A.Z. Rogers
Themes & tags
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