Harris County | US Courthouses

Harris County is named for John Richardson Harris, who was an early settler in the county.

Surrounding County Courthouses:

N – Waller County and Montgomery County

E – Liberty County and Chambers County

S – Galveston County, Brazoria County and Fort Bend County

W – Waller County

Created: March 17, 1836

County Seat:

Harrisburg 1836 – 1837

Houston 1837 – present

County Courthouse – Houston

Location: 301 Fannin Street / Congress Street

Built: 1909 – 1910

Style: Beaux Arts and Classical Revival

Architect: Charles Erwin Barglebaugh of Lang, Winchell & Barglebaugh

Contractor: The American Construction Company ( formerly H L Stevens & Company )

Description: The building faces west and is a six story rough cut pink colored Texas granite, limestone and light brown colored St. Louis brick structure. The building is located on landscaped grounds in the center of Houston. The west front has a portico supported by eight Corinthian columns rising from the second to fourth stories. The first story has stone arches. On the building center is a large round dome supported by thin columns and with a buff colored roof and small round cupola on the top. The building was remodeled in 1954. The architect was Finger and Rustay. The building houses the First and Fourteenth Court of Appeals..

See: Charles Erwin Barglebaugh also designed the courthouse in Johnson County.

Note: The previous courthouse was designed by Edward J Duhamel and constructed in 1883.

County Juvenile Justice Center – Houston

Location: 1200 Congress Street / San Jacinto Street

Built: 1950 – 1952

Style: Modern

Architect: Finger and Rustay

Contractor: Manhattan Construction Company of Texas

Description: The building faces north onto Harris County Jury Plaza and is an eight story buff colored brick, red colored granite and concrete structure. The building is located on landscaped grounds in the center of Houston. The north front has a large two story glass enclosed portico with flat extended roof. The east and west sections project from the main building. On the east and west sides are vertical concrete dividers between the windows. The roof line is flat. The architect was and the contractor was . In 2006, the building was remodeled. The architect was Morris Architects and the contractor was Satterfield & Pontikes Construction, Inc.

Note: The building was constructed to replace the old courthouse and in 2006 became the Juvenile Justice Center.

County Civil Courthouse – Houston

Location: 201 Caroline Street / Congress Street

Built: 2003 – 2006

Style: Modern

Architect: Pierce, Goodwin, Alexander & Linville ( PGAL )

Contractor: Vaughn Construction

Description: The building faces west onto Harris County Jury Plaza and is an eighteen story red colored brick, concrete and glass structure. The building is located on landscaped grounds in the center of Houston. The west front has a semi-circular portico supported by eight columns and with four recessed columns and glass panel wall at the entrance. Above is a large clock. A central vertical glass section rises to the top floor with pediment at the roof line. Glass sections rise at each corner.

County Criminal Justice Center – Houston

Location: 1201 Franklin Street / San Jacinto Street

Built: 1996 – 1999

Style: Modern

Architect: Pierce, Goodwin, Alexander & Linville ( PGAL )

Contractor: Manhattan Construction Company

Description: The building faces south onto Harris County Jury Plaza and is a twenty-two story concrete and glass structure. The building is located on landscaped grounds in the center of Houston. The south front has a central entrance with semi-circular pediment on the second story. A central vertical glass section rises to the top story with a semi-circular roof line.

See: The architect, Pierce, Goodwin, Alexander & Linville ( PGAL ) designed courthouses in Florida in Indian River County, in Louisiana in Saint Tammany Parish and in Texas in Collin County and Fort Bend County.

Note: The county is one of the original 23 counties created in 1836.