Wilson County Courthouse and Jail, Floresville, Texas
historic place
The Wilson County Courthouse and Jail are significant historic structures in Floresville, Texas. The courthouse, a two-story stuccoed brick building, was completed in 1884. It replaced an earlier courthouse built after Floresville became the county seat in 1871. San Antonio architect Alfred Giles designed this Italianate building, utilizing local brick. The courthouse features entry pavilions with Doric columns, a bracketed cornice, and a central tower with a steeple. In 1984, it was designated a Recorded Texas Historic Landmark. Adjacent to it, the Wilson County Jail was designed in 1887 by architect James Riely Gordon. This white brick and stucco structure served as both the jail and the sheriff's residence until 1974. Today, the old jail operates as the Wilson County Jailhouse Museum. Both the courthouse and jail were added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1978. These buildings collectively reflect the administrative and judicial history of Wilson County, established in 1860 and named for James Charles Wilson.