Shackelford County Courthouse Historic District facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Shackelford County Courthouse Historic District
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
U.S. Historic district
Shackleford County Courthouse
Shackelford County Courthouse Historic District Location in Texas Show map of Texas Shackelford County Courthouse Historic District Location in the United States Show map of the United States
Location	Roughly bounded by S. 1st, S. 4th, S. Jacobs, and S. Pecan Sts., Albany, Texas
Area	17 acres (6.9 ha)
Architect	Multiple
Architectural style	Late Victorian
NRHP reference No.	76002065
Added to NRHP	July 30, 1976

The Shackelford County Courthouse Historic District is a special area in Albany, Texas. It's like a time capsule, showing how the town looked long ago. This historic district is mainly around the main courthouse square. It includes the Shackelford County Courthouse and many other buildings. These buildings were built a long time ago, mostly in the late 1800s and early 1900s. They show off a style called Victorian architecture. In 1976, this whole area was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This means it's an important place to protect because of its history.

How the District Started

Early Days of Shackelford County

Shackelford County was created in 1858. Later, in 1874, the town of Albany, Texas became the main town, also known as the county seat. This is where the county government is located. The very first courthouse was a simple wooden building, built in 1875. Next to it, a county jail was built in 1878. This old jail is now a cool place called the Old Jail Art Center.

Growing Around the Square

The area around the courthouse was planned out with many small plots of land. These plots were 25 feet wide on each side of the square. This square quickly became the heart of the growing town. In 1881, something big happened: the Texas Central Railroad reached Albany. This made Albany a very important stop for trains. Because of the railroad, many people and businesses moved to Albany from other nearby towns.

New Buildings and Changes

Before the railroad arrived, most buildings around the courthouse were wooden homes. But in the 1880s, more businesses and public buildings started to appear. Most of these new buildings were made of strong stone. A Presbyterian Church was built in 1882. In 1883, one of the houses on the square became Albany's first public school. That same year, a two-story bank building was built, which later became the City Hall.

The first wooden courthouse was taken down in 1883. A new, bigger Shackelford County Courthouse was built in its place in 1884. By the 1890s, there were many shops, homes, and hotels all around the courthouse square.

Keeping History Alive

Since the early 1900s, not many changes have been made to the buildings in this historic district. The newest buildings you'll see there are from the 1920s. Over the years, some building owners have fixed up their properties. Business owners in the area have also worked together to help save these historic buildings.

On July 30, 1976, the courthouse square and the areas around it were officially added to the National Register of Historic Places. This was done because the district has so many well-preserved buildings from the old frontier days. People say the district still has "the charm of the Northwest Texas Frontier."

Historic Properties You Can See