Bryan County is named for William Jennings Bryan, who was a Populist politician.
Surrounding County Courthouses:
N – Johnston County and Atoka County
E – Choctaw County
S – Lamar County, Texas, Fannin County, Texas and Grayson County, Texas
W – Marshall County
Created: July 16, 1907 
County Seat:
Durant 1907 – present
County Courthouse – Durant
Location: 402 West Evergreen Street / North 4th Avenue
Built: 1917 – 1918
Style: Classical Revival
Architect: Jewell Hicks
Contractor: Manhattan Construction Company
Description: The building faces east and is a three story gray colored limestone and concrete structure. The approximately square building is located on landscaped grounds in the center of Durant. The building is constructed of cut stone blocks. The east front has a projecting center section with four Corinthian columns rising from the second story to the top of the third story with a wide header above with crest at the roof line. An ornate wreath and shield design provides a decorative accent above the new metal and glass front door. A projecting cornice runs below the roof line. The first story has horizontal stone work. In the interior, the building has marble floors, staircase and wainscoting. The building houses the County District Court of the 19th Judicial District.
See: The architect, Jewell Hicks, also designed the courthouses in Garvin County, Marshall County and Murray County.
See: The contractor, Manhattan Construction Company, constructed courthouses in Oklahoma in Craig County, Creek County, Garvin County, Logan County, Muskogee County, Noble County, Oklahoma County, Pawnee County and Tulsa County.
See: National Register of Historic Places – Bryan County Courthouse
History: The county was created in 1907 and Durant was selected as the county seat. The county used rented premises. The second story of the J L Wilson Building / Opera House was used as a Federal Courthouse from 1902 to 1904. The first and present courthouse was constructed in 1917 to 1918.
Old Federal Courthouse – Durant
Location: 202 West Evergreen Street / North 2nd Avenue
Built: 1900 – 1901
Style: Commercial
Architect: J W Wilson
Contractor: J W Wilson
Description: The building faces south and is a two story pressed tin facade and wood structure. The rectangular shaped building is located in the center of Durant to the east of the courthouse. The first story on the south side has commercial space. The second story has paired columns between the windows. The roof line is flat and has a bracketed cornice with swags and garlands. Named as the J L Wilson Building / Opera House, the second story was used as the Federal Courthouse from 1902 to 1904 and later used as an Opera House.
County Courthouse – Durant
Photos taken 2009
Images 6