Cameron County is named for Ewen Cameron, who was a soldier during the Texas Revolution and who was named Sir Ewen Cameron of Loch.
Surrounding County Courthouses:
N – Willacy County
E – Gulf of Mexico
S – Mexico
W – Hildalgo County
Created: February 12, 1848 
County Seat:
Santa Rita 1848
Brownsville 1848 – present
County Courthouse – Brownsville
Location: 1100 East Monroe Street / East 11th Street
Built: 1911 – 1912
Style: Texas Renaissance
Architect: Atlee B Ayres of San Antonio
Contractor: Gross Construction Company of Dallas
Description: The building faces northeast and is a four story buff colored brick and concrete structure. The building is located on spacious grounds in the center of the city. The northeast front has a projecting center porch with three openings on the first story and four columns rising from the second floor to the top of the third story. A wide horizontal cornice runs below the fourth story. The roof line is flat. There is an interior rotunda with art-glass dome. The building is named as the Oscar C Dancy Building. The building was renovated in 2006. The architect was Roberto J Ruiz, Architect, Inc. and the contractor was Joe R Jones Construction Inc.
Note: The cost of construction of the courthouse was $250,000. The cost of restoration of the courthouse was $15,300,000 upon completion in 2006.
See: The architect, Atlee B Ayres of San Antonio, also designed courthouses in Jim Wells County, Kleberg County and Refugio County.
County Judicial Building – Brownsville
Location: 974 East Harrison Street / East 10th Street
Built: 1976 – 1978
Style: Modern
Architect: SHWC Inc. ( Swanson, Heister, Wilson & Claycomb ) of Brownsville
Contractor: Donald D Ferguson, Inc.
Description: The building faces north and is a two story cream colored concrete structure. The building is located in the center of the city to the north of the courthouse. There are several extensions and large square recessed arches. The building has few windows and the roof line is flat. The new building is the Cameron County Judicial Center.
Old County Courthouse – Brownsville
Location: 1131 Jefferson Street / 12th Street
Built: 1861 – 1862
Style: Classical Revival
Architect: J N Preston & Sons
Contractor: S W Brooks
Description: The building faces southwest and is a two story structure. The building is located on landscaped grounds in the center of the city. The building is now the Rio Grande Masonic Lodge No. 81.
County Harlingen Annex – Harlingen
Location: 974 East Harrison Street / East 10th Street
Built: 1976 – 1978
Style: Modern
Architect: SHWC Inc. ( Swanson, Heister, Wilson & Claycomb ) of Brownsville / Gignaci Architects
Contractor: Donald D Ferguson, Inc. / Scuggins Construction Company, Inc.
Description: The building faces south and is a two story buff colored brick, glass and concrete structure. The building is located on landscaped grounds. The south front has a large concrete section with large rectangular openings with a glass recessed entrance and tower rising above the roof line. The roof line is flat.
County Courthouse – Brownsville
County Judicial Building – Brownsville
Old County Courthouse – Brownsville
County Courthouse Annex – Harlingen
Photos taken 2006 and 2014
Images 27