Loving County Courthouse facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Loving County Courthouse
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The courthouse, as seen from the northeast
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 Loving County Courthouse
Location in Texas
Loving County Courthouse
Location in the United States
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| Location | Bounded by Pecos St., Collins St., Dallas St., and TX 302, Mentone, Texas |
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| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1935 |
| Architect | Evan J. Wood |
| Architectural style | Moderne |
| NRHP reference No. | 06000362 |
| Added to NRHP | May 10, 2006 |
The Loving County Courthouse is a special building in Mentone, Texas. A courthouse is where important legal decisions are made and county government business happens. This building was the first permanent courthouse for Loving County.
It was built in 1935. Before that, there was a temporary courthouse from 1931. Loving County became an official county in 1931 because of a big oil discovery. The county's population grew to 600 people in 1933. Today, it has about 82 people.
Evan J. Wood designed the courthouse. He used a style called Moderne. This two-story building is the tallest in Loving County. It is also the only place where the county government works.
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History of the Courthouse
Loving County is one of the least populated counties in the United States. This means not many people live there. Because of this, the courthouse has not had many court cases.
Between 1931 and 2004, only 726 civil cases were filed. These cases often involved car accidents or disagreements between oil and gas companies. The courthouse saw its first major legal case in 1936.
Jury Trials in Loving County
In 2003, the courthouse held its first jury trials since 1955. A jury is a group of citizens who listen to a case and make a decision. For these trials, almost every adult in the county was called to be a potential juror.
It was hard to pick a jury because of a Texas law. This law says that relatives cannot serve on the same jury. Since many people in Loving County are related, it was a challenge to find enough unrelated jurors.
Why the Courthouse is Important
Even with few court cases, the courthouse is very important to Loving County. About one-third of the people living in the county work for the county government. This means the courthouse is a central place for jobs and community life.
On May 10, 2006, the courthouse was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This means it is recognized as an important historical building.
New Building for the County
By 2011, a new building was almost finished across the street. This new building is called a courthouse annex. It was planned to hold the offices for the sheriff and the county clerk. The new building is a single story and has a Southwestern style. It is about the same size as the main courthouse.
Images for kids
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View of facade and entrance
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