Fashioned of brick and limestone, the Uvalde County Courthouse was designed by Henry T. Phelps in a Texas Renaissance style. Completed in 1927, the county capitol was originally built for $150,569.
Carved out of Bexar County in 1850, the county was named for Juan de Ugalde, a Spanish governor, knight, and soldier. The first settlers to arrive in the canyon area changed the county name from Ugalde to Uvalde.
The county seat – once an outpost on the Old San Antonio-El Paso Road – was christened Encina in 1855 but was later renamed Uvalde. A small courthouse was raised the next year that included a courtroom and jail on the first floor and upstairs offices for the sheriff and clerk. The county moved into new quarters in 1877, 1890, and 1927.
Known as the “County of 1,000 Springs,” the area is home to four spring-fed rivers: the Frio, Leona, Nueces and Sabinal. The county is part of the Texas Hill Country River Region, stretching north of Uvalde and encompassing Lost Maples State Park and Garner State Park.
Uvalde’s restored Grand Opera House, also known as the Janey Slaughter Briscoe Grand Opera House, is among the oldest operating opera houses in the Lone Star State; in fact, most of the original 1891 features are still intact.
The Briscoe-Garner Memorial Museum honors former Gov. Dolph Briscoe, a prominent Uvalde citizen, and well-known Uvalde resident John Nance Garner, who served as Franklin D. Roosevelt’s vice president from 1933-1941.
While home in Uvalde celebrating his birthday in 1963, Garner received a phone call from President John F. Kennedy, the last call Kennedy placed before his assassination in Dallas. The moment was captured on film by the Uvalde News Leader, and the faded photograph of Garner talking to Kennedy hangs in the museum to this day.
“Visit Uvalde County” shares a list of fun facts including:
- Historically, Uvalde has been known as the Honey Capital of the World for production of Huajillo honey, a mild, light-colored honey discovered in the late 1800s.
- Oscar-winning actor Matthew McConaughey and actress Dale Evans were born in Uvalde. The Newton Brothers Gang was also from Uvalde County.
- The Frio River is mentioned in George Strait’s song “All My Ex’s Live in Texas.” – visituvaldecounty.com.