How a Texas county built a Victorian courthouse using limestone from its own river

Countries & Cities · Published 15 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Erath County, Texas, is defined by more than its vast rural landscape. From its role in the state's coal-mining history to its status as a hub for renewable energy, this region balances a deep connection to its 19th-century architectural heritage with a modern, evolving economic identity.

Formed in 1856 from Bosque and Coryell Counties, Erath County was named for George Bernard Erath, an Austrian immigrant and surveyor who fought at the Battle of San Jacinto. The county seat, Stephenville, was established the same year after John M. Stephen donated land for the townsite. The region's early history was marked by the presence of the Anadarko people, who inhabited villages along the Trinity and Brazos Rivers before being displaced by the mid-19th century, followed by the removal of Comanche tribes after 1875.

The county's architectural crown jewel is its third courthouse, completed in 1893. Designed by James Riely Gordon, the Victorian structure features a 95-foot central tower and an interior atrium. Its construction utilized local limestone sourced from the Leon River, combined with red sandstone brought in from Pecos County. This building replaced two earlier courthouses, including an original wooden structure from 1866 that was destroyed by fire, and a stone building from 1877 that was eventually razed.

Economic life in Erath County has shifted significantly over the decades. Between 1875 and 1915, cotton was the primary crop, supported by the arrival of railroads in Dublin and Stephenville. By 1910, environmental challenges like soil erosion and the boll weevil prompted a transition toward dairy farming, orchards, and poultry. Later, the community of Thurber became a major coal-mining center, with the Texas Pacific Coal Company operating there from 1888 to 1921. Today, the county hosts two of North America's largest renewable natural gas plants, located near Stephenville and Dublin.

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