Polk County Courthouse - Livingston, TX
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WTT-B2
N 30° 42.644 W 094° 56.009
15R E 314846 N 3399140
A Historical County Courthouse in Livingston, TX located at 101 Church Street.
Waymark Code: WM73NK
Location: Texas, United States
Date Posted: 08/28/2009
Views: 12
Polk County has had five courthouses: 1846, 1847, 1854, 1884 and 1923
Historic Plaque, Polk County Courthouse. Completed in 1924, this is the fifth courthouse to serve Polk County. Citing "Lack of space and modern conveniences," the commissioner’s court hired the Houston architectural firm of McLelland and Fink to design their new building. Contractor Isaac Young completed demolition of the 1884 Courthouse by July 1923, and the first court meetings were held in this building by the fall of 1924. Designed to include an auditorium, library, American Legion Hall and Post Office, which were replaced in later years by administrative and judicial offices, the Polk County Courthouse features classical revival styling with Beaux Arts influences. It stands as a significant part of Livingston's architectural heritage. Recorded Texas Historic Landmark - 2001.
Polk County, named after President James K. Polk, was one of twenty-three counties formed by the first state legislature of Texas in 1846. The boundaries established on March 30 closely followed those of the old northern division of Liberty Municipality, a subdivision of the Department of Nacogdoches established by the Mexican government in 1830. On August 13, 1870, the part of Polk County west of the Trinity became San Jacinto County. The present area of Polk County was fixed on March 11, 1875, when a portion of Trinity County was annexed. Livingston, formerly Springfield, was selected by a vote as the county seat in 1846, and the first commissioners' court met there in September. The town is still the county seat. The new county filled rapidly with American settlers between 1835 and 1860.
Year Built: 1923
Current Use of Building: County Courthouse
Level of Courts: County
Architect: Classical revival styling with Beaux Arts influences
Physical Address:
101 Church Street
Livingston, Texas 77351
Dates this building was used to house judicial proceedings: Not listed
Hours: Not listed
Related Website: Not listed
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Visit Instructions:
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