Did You Know? Stephenville's Courthouse Has Stood as a Texas Landmark for Over a Century

Stephenville was founded in 1854 and named after settler John M. Stephen. Erath County was established two years later in 1856. The original wooden courthouse burned in 1866. The railroad arrived in 1889, sparking economic growth. A new courthouse was commissioned in 1891 and completed in 1892. The structure was designed by J. Riely Gordon, a renowned Texas courthouse architect who previously designed the First National Bank and Crow Opera House on Stephenville's town square. The building features Romanesque Revival architecture with locally-quarried limestone and Pecos sandstone accents. Its central clock tower became the town's most recognizable symbol. The courthouse underwent restoration in 1988 with an annex addition. Visitors are encouraged to explore Stephenville's history at visitstephenville.com.