Rockwall County is named for the wall-like subterranean rock formation that runs throughout the county.
Surrounding County Courthouses:
N – Collin County
E – Hunt County and Kaufman County
S – Kaufman County
W – Dallas County
Created: March 1, 1873 
County Seat:
Rockwall 1873 – present
Old County Courthouse – Rockwall
Location: 101 East Rusk Street / Goliad Street
Built: 1940 – 1941
Style: Art Deco
Architect: Voelcker & Dixon
Contractor: Carl Miller / Voelcker & Dixon ( supervisor )
Description: The building faces south and is a four story cream colored Cordova Cream sandstone faced and concrete structure. The building is located on landscaped grounds in the center of Rockwall. The south front has a projecting center section with the entrance on the first story and three long vertical windows on the second story. On the east and west are more long vertical windows. The third story is recessed with smaller windows and the roof line is flat. The fourth story housed the jail. The building was a Works Project Administration project using local trades for construction. The building was renovated in 2002. The architect was ArchiTexas and the contractor was Phoenix I Restoration and Construction, Ltd. The building is now a museum.
Note: The architect, Voelcker & Dixon by agreement dated the 17th day of June, 1939, agreed to the adequate supervision of work of construction and compile an application for labor and funds with the Works Progress Administration. Contracts were entered into with Southern States Steel Corporation (steel bars), Austin Brothers (structural steel), Sands Electric Company (electrical), West Texas Engineering & Supply Company (steel windows), Satoris Brothers (plumbing), Texas Quarries, Inc. limestone) , Bailey Moline Hardware Company (hardware), McDonald Hardware Company (materials and tools), J H Parker (lumber), J Fred Smith Gravel Company (sand and gravel), Nolan-Browne Company (tile), Elliot Shields Planning Mill Company (millwork), McAtee, Inc. (brick) and Walter Jones (brick laying and stone setting foreman).
See: The architect, Voelcker & Dixon designed other courthouses in Cottle County, Grayson County,Gregg County, Jack County, Knox County, Midland County, Van Zandt County and Wilbarger County.
County Courthouse – Rockwall
Location: 1111 East Yellow Jacket Lane / T L Townsend Drive
Built: 2009 – 2011
Style: Modern
Architect: Gregory W Read and Hal Sargent of Brinkley Sargent Architects
Contractor: Manhattan Construction Company of Dallas.
Description: The building faces northwest and is a four story buff colored brick, concrete and glass structure. The building is located on spacious grounds to the south of the center of the city. The northwest front has a large portico with four high columns and recessed entrance on the first story. Wings extend east and west with vertical pillars between the windows. On the center of the roof is a large dome with columns, gray colored roof and small lantern at the top.
See: The 1st Administrative Judicial Region has a main office in McKinney in Collin County.
History: The county was created in 1873 and Rockwall was selected as the county seat. The first courthouse was an existing frame building located on the southeast corner of the square and which was destroyed by fire in 1875. The second courthouse was also a frame structure built in 1875 by James Edward Flanders and which was also destroyed by fire in 1891. In 1892, the third courthouse was an existing building on the south side of the square. The fourth courthouse was a native stone building built on the square in 1892 and designed by Maximillian Anton Orlopp Jr. The courthouse was demolished in 1938. The fifth courthouse was the Lovejoy Hall which is still standing across the street from the square while the sixth courthouse was constructed from 1940 to 1941 at a cost of $92,000. In 1994 the Cameron Building at 1101 Ridge Road was purchased as an interim courthouse until the eight and present courthouse was constructed in 2009 to 2011 at a cost of $37,500,000.
Old County Courthouse – Rockwall
County Courthouse – Rockwall
Old Seventh County Courthouse – Rockwall
Photos taken 2009, 2010, 2014 and 2019
Images 25