Jim Wells County Courthouse (1992)

Governor Oscar B. Colquitt signed legislation creating Jim Wells County on March 11, 1911. Taken from territory formerly a part of Nueces County, the new county was named for prominent Brownsville attorney and business leader James B. Wells, Jr. (1850-1923). The first county elections were held two months later, and in January 1912 the citizens of the new county approved a bond election to finance the construction of a courthouse and jail. The county commissioners hired San Antonio architect Atlee B. Ayers to design the courthouse. The laying of the cornerstone on July 25, 1912, drew a crowd of more than 2,000 people. Celebration activities included performances by the Alice Concert Band and the Alice Symphony Club, as well as a barbecue, rodeo events, and baseball game. The discovery of oil in Jim Wells County in 1938 led to increased economic development and a population boom. The courthouse was remodeled in 1948-1949, and annexes later were built nearby. Although its original appearance has been altered, the Jim Wells County Courthouse stands as a significant structure in the county's history. It continues to serve as the center of county government. (1992)

Jim Wells County Courthouse is a historical marker in Alice, Jim Wells County, dedicated in 1992. It is one of 10 historical markers documented in Jim Wells County in the Texas Historical Commission Atlas, among 24 historic sites cataloged across the county.

The site sits at 27.7547, -98.0709 near Alice. The nearest cataloged historic site is Alice (historical marker), about under a tenth of a mile away. Others within a short drive include Jim Wells County Courthouse, McGill Brothers Building, and South Texas Museum.

This record corresponds to Texas Historical Commission Atlas #5249002758. Use the map below for its exact position and turn-by-turn directions.