Jim Wells County is named for James Babbage Wells Jr., who was a politician in southern Texas.
Created: March 11, 1911
County Seat:
Alice 1911 – present
County Courthouse – Alice
Location: 200 North Almond Street / East 2nd Street
Built: 1912 – 1913
Style: Texas Renaissance
Architect: Atlee B Ayres of San Antonio
Contractor: The Bailey Mills Company
Description: The building faces south and is a two story brownish colored brick and concrete structure. The building is located on landscaped grounds in the center of the city. The south has a projecting central section with recessed porch with two columns on the first story and wide header above. Two brick pilasters rise to the roof line. A wide cornice runs above the second story windows. On the roof is a large octagonal cupola with dome. The roof is hipped. The courtroom is located on the second story and the Commissions Court is located on the first story. Additions on the east and west sides were built in 1948 and completed in 1949. The architect was Addis E Noonan.
See: The architect, Atlee B Ayres of San Antonio, also designed courthouses in Cameron County, Kleberg County and Refugio County.
Note: The courthouse is the first and only courthouse constructed in the County.
Courthouses:
N – Live Oak County and San Patrico County
E – San Patrico County, Nueces County and Kleberg County
S – Brooks County
W – Duval County
County Courthouse
Photos taken 2014 and 2019