Jefferson, Marion County
The Texas Legislature created Marion County in 1860. Jefferson, established as early as 1841, was chosen as county seat. By 1860, Jefferson was a regional economic center for steamboat traffic on Big Cypress Bayou, navigable due to a logjam on the Red River. The county government occupied several buildings during its first 50 years, including a courthouse built in 1873 and the Murphy Building, used today as a courthouse annex. In 1912, the county hired architect Elmer G. Withers to design a courthouse. Similar to his design for the Roberts County Courthouse, this Classical Revival building features Doric columns, balustered parapet, denticulation and raised basement. Recorded Texas Historic Landmark - 2002