020 of 254: Uvalde County Courthouse, Uvalde, Texas. County Population: 26,405
Uvalde County, Texas
"Uvalde County covers 1,588 square miles. The Edwards Plateau covers the northern third of the county. Elevations range from 2,000 feet above sea level to 700 feet above sea level. Low rolling hills and deep canyons cut across the county's midsection from southwest to northeast.
"After the establishment of San Antonio in 1718, the Uvalde County region was consistently traversed by Spanish soldiers, commercial packtrains, buffalo hunters, cattlemen, and mineral prospectors. On January 9, 1790, Juan de Ugalde, governor of Coahuila and commandant of the Provincias Internas, led 600 men to a decisive victory over the Apaches near the site of modern Utopia at a place known then as Arroyo de la Soledad. In honor of his victory, the canyon area was thereafter called Cañon de Ugalde.
"Uvalde County was formed by legislative act from Bexar County on February 8, 1850, but failed to secure a permanent county status because of an insufficient number of settlers. A second attempt to organize the territory resulted in a petition to form a county encompassing the area of the present Kinney, Maverick, and Uvalde counties. The petition was approved in 1855 by the citizens of Eagle Pass, Los Moras, Patterson Settlement, and Encina. A much smaller Uvalde County was established by legislative enactment on February 2, 1856; four months later, on June 14, Encina was made county seat and renamed Uvalde."
Ruben E. Ochoa, "UVALDE COUNTY," Handbook of Texas Online
I visited Uvalde County and photographed the courthouse on August 27, 2009 and April 26, 2014.
"After the establishment of San Antonio in 1718, the Uvalde County region was consistently traversed by Spanish soldiers, commercial packtrains, buffalo hunters, cattlemen, and mineral prospectors. On January 9, 1790, Juan de Ugalde, governor of Coahuila and commandant of the Provincias Internas, led 600 men to a decisive victory over the Apaches near the site of modern Utopia at a place known then as Arroyo de la Soledad. In honor of his victory, the canyon area was thereafter called Cañon de Ugalde.
"Uvalde County was formed by legislative act from Bexar County on February 8, 1850, but failed to secure a permanent county status because of an insufficient number of settlers. A second attempt to organize the territory resulted in a petition to form a county encompassing the area of the present Kinney, Maverick, and Uvalde counties. The petition was approved in 1855 by the citizens of Eagle Pass, Los Moras, Patterson Settlement, and Encina. A much smaller Uvalde County was established by legislative enactment on February 2, 1856; four months later, on June 14, Encina was made county seat and renamed Uvalde."
Ruben E. Ochoa, "UVALDE COUNTY," Handbook of Texas Online
I visited Uvalde County and photographed the courthouse on August 27, 2009 and April 26, 2014.
Uvalde County Courthouse 1927Architect Henry T. Phelps designed this classical revival style courthouse, replacing an 1890 era Second Empire style courthouse designed by Benjamin Franklin Trestor. According to the THC website, the 1927 courthouse was originally considered a "remodeling," removing all wallls, and leaving only the iron vault of the earlier building.
The 1890 Uvalde County courthouse. Image courtesy courthousehistory.com
Historic records in the courthouse vault
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Photograph, circa 1939, courtesy TXDOT
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The east façade is, appropriately, on East Street
The first floor, looking east, the elevator on the left and the stair on the right
The 38th Judicial District courtroom on the second floor
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The north doors are, you guessed it, on North Street
The elevator project merited its own plaque!
The District Court serves Medina, Real & Uvalde Counties
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The west façade of the courthouse is the "front" of the building. It faces Getty Street
The west facade
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An historic bank building on the courthouse square
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View from the west side of the courthouse of the public square
The Opera House on the left and the Kincaid Hotel on the right, at the intersection of North and Getty Streets on the square
The Uvalde Opera House, 1891. Designed by B. F. Trester, a San Antonio architect. The Uvalde House served other purposes and functions besides opera and theatre. It was the social center for the entire community. The local orchestra, minstrel shows, musicals and local talent productions performed there.
The Kincaid Hotel. This four-story hotel building was constructed in 1927 by the family of William Davis "Billy" Kincaid (b. 1854) in memory of his life as a prominent Uvalde cattleman, businessman, and civic leader. The Kincaid Hotel became a popular place for business meetings, banquets, and social gatherings.
The Kincaid Hotel is directly north of the courthouse
The Uvalde City Hall is directly south of the courthouse, on Main Street
Looking west from the square on Main Street (US 90)
South of US 90 on the west side of Uvalde is the county's "Fairplex" with a Rodeo Arena, Event Center and the Stardust Pavilion
The Uvalde County Event Center
The Uvalde County Rodeo Arena