Hutchinson County Courthouse
Why it's listed
Rising from the highest point of a two-acre block in Stinnett, this four-story buff brick courthouse serves as the seat of Hutchinson County government. Its Beaux Arts design includes grand round-arch entries, paired pilasters, limestone quoins, balustrades, and steel casement windows that create the look of a blind arcade. Carved panels in the parapet depict the petroleum, farm and ranch, and cattle industries, the area's three principal commercial enterprises. The building was erected during the Panhandle oil boom, after county voters moved the seat from declining Plemons to the new town of Stinnett in 1926. It is the county's fourth courthouse; neither of the first two survives. Later changes include a 1980s elevator, air conditioning and dropped ceilings, though much original oak furniture, hardware and marble remains. A 1982 jail and a storage shed on the block do not contribute to its historic character. The courthouse retains good integrity as a 1920s civic landmark.
Significance in brief: The nomination presents the courthouse as a good example of 1920s civic architecture in Texas, with high-style Beaux Arts design and decorative friezes depicting the petroleum, farm and ranch, and cattle industries. It also marks the county's oil-boom prosperity and the 1926 move of the county seat from Plemons to Stinnett.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 12000587, listed August 28, 2012. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 500 S. Main St., Stinnett |
|---|---|
| County | Hutchinson County |
| Listed | August 28, 2012 |
| Reference number | 12000587 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architectural style | Late 19th and 20th Century Revivals/Beaux Arts |
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Politics/Government |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Still used as the county courthouse; described as in good overall condition with a good degree of integrity. |
| Acreage | 2.2 |
| Coordinates | 35.82927, -101.44285 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For a publicly owned building or structure, listing mainly matters when federal funds, permits or licences are involved: projects then go through Section 106 review so effects on the property are considered. Listing also strengthens applications for preservation grants and, for leased income-producing uses, can enable the federal rehabilitation tax credit.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 12000587.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q107320702
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.