Year Built: 1957
Architect: Wyatt Hedrick
The Kent County Courthouse is located in Jayton, Texas.
Kent County has been home to two temples of justice. The inaugural courthouse was raised in the original county seat of Clairemont in 1893 in an Italianate style as designed by Martin, Byrnes and Johnston. The current county capitol was erected in Jayton in 1957 in a Modern style as created by Wyatt Hedrick.
The county was named in honor of Andrew Kent, who died in the Alamo, while Jayton refers to two local promoters, James B. and R.A. Jay. The county hub was moved from Clairemont to Jayton in 1954 following a two-year court battle. The Clairemont courthouse burned just after the county records were sent over to Jayton; however, the bottom story of the former capitol was preserved and still stands today.
The Old Kent County Jail in Clairemont was honored as a Recorded Texas Historic Landmark in 1965 with the following verbiage: “Built, 1894, of red sandstone quarried nearby. Horse and cattle thieves, murderers, moonshiners most common prisoners. One of most difficult West Texas jails from which to escape. No attempted break successful.”
From the “Monuments of Justice: Kent County Courthouse”, Texas County Progress Website.
