Refugio County Courthouses

The county and city of Refugio are named after the Spanish Mission De Nuestra Señora Del Refugio (the Mission of our Lady of Refuge) established here in 1795. The Spanish mission building served as Refugio County's courthouse at various times from 1837 to 1848. Construction of a permanent county courthouse began about 1850 here on the town's central plaza, dedicated for municipal buildings when Refugio was a Mexican pueblo (1821-1836). The one-story courthouse, made from shell concrete and cypress lumber, was enlarged to a two-story structure in the late 1850s. A new courthouse, built in the mid-1870s, burned in 1879 and was replaced with a new structure in the late 1850s. A new courthouse, built in the mid-1870s, burned in 1879 and was replaced with a new structure in 1880. The fifth Refugio County courthouse, designed by San Antonio architect Atlee B. Ayres and built by local contractor W.H. Borglud, was completed at this site in December 1917. In the 1920s oil and natural gas were discovered in significant quantities throughout Refugio County. The burgeoning oil and gas industries led to an increase in population and business activity in the county, and in the 1950s the county courthouse was expanded with the addition of north and south wings. Refugio County courthouse continues its traditional role as the county's governmental and judical center. Sesquicentennial of Texas Statehood 1845-1995

Refugio County Courthouses is a historical marker in Refugio, Refugio County, dedicated in 1994. It is one of 18 historical markers documented in Refugio County in the Texas Historical Commission Atlas, among 32 historic sites cataloged across the county.

The site sits at 28.2979, -97.2754 near Refugio. The nearest cataloged historic site is King, Amon B. (historical marker), about under a tenth of a mile away. Others within a short drive include Irish Immigrants in Refugio, Woodworth House, and Our Lady of Refuge Catholic Church.

This record corresponds to Texas Historical Commission Atlas #5391004233. Use the map below for its exact position and turn-by-turn directions.