Potter County Courthouse

Organized in August 1887, Potter County erected its first courthouse in 1888 in old town Amarillo. The building was constructed by Mays, Hightower, and Jackson for a cost of $191.

Over the years, three more courthouses were built as Amarillo and Potter County grew. During the 1920s the panhandle experienced an oil boom. As a result, business increased, the population of Amarillo nearly tripled, and eight skyscrapers were added to the city.

The fifth courthouse in Potter County, this building was designed by Architect W. C. Townes of Townes, Lightfoot, and Funk of Amarillo. It was constructed at a cost of $420,000 in 1930-32 by Amarillo builder Charles Lambie. More than 500 laborers, residents of Potter County, applied to work on building the new courthouse.

The Potter County courthouse is a fine local example of an art deco style institutional building. It exhibits stepped massing from its entrance pavilion to the top of the tower, and skillful use of details that include ornamental figural and botanical bas relief, symmetrical pilasters and metal casement windows.

Recorded Texas Historical Landmark—1996

—Plaque in front of the building