From the town square laid out in Dimmitt in 1891 to fields and pastures that change with the seasons, Castro County combines architectural history and remembrance with a rural landscape. Dimmitt, Nazareth, and the Castro County Museum represent different themes—from architecture and Indigenous history to agriculture and prairie.
Dimmitt: Architectural History and Remembrance
Dimmitt’s town square was laid out in 1891, the year Castro County was formally established. The Castro County Courthouse in Dimmitt was built in 1939 with funding from the federal Public Works Administration. It was designed by the Amarillo architectural firm Townes & Funk; the building is an example of the Moderne Classical style. In 2026, it became the first property in Castro County to be listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
The Gilbreath-Cowsert House in Dimmitt was built in 1909 and is considered a good example of an early 20th-century vernacular-style residence. Comparing it with the courthouse brings together two named styles: Moderne Classical and vernacular residential architecture. Read as a timeline, the 1891 establishment of the town square is followed by the 1909 residence and the 1939 courthouse.
The Dimmitt Trail Arrow commemorates the presence of the Comanche and other Indigenous peoples of the Plains before the arrival of settlers. For orientation, Dimmitt Municipal Airport is immediately north of Dimmitt and west of U.S. Highway 385.
Dimmitt Splash Park is a 4,000-square-foot community facility that can be used free of charge. If you plan to visit, check current operating information beforehand, as it may change.
Nazareth: Church, Prairie, and Daily Life
Holy Family Catholic Church in Nazareth was built in 1903. The Jerusalem Oratory at Holy Family Cemetery serves visitors as a place for prayer and information about the cemetery. Starting in 1905, residents shopped at Home Mercantile in Nazareth for 90 years. The 2022 German Sausage Festival in Nazareth included a German sausage meal and an arts and crafts show.
The area around Nazareth is considered prairie; apart from trees planted by people, there are few other trees. This gives the landscape a different character from Dimmitt’s architectural landmarks.
Landscape and Museum
Cattle, cotton, and corn shape the rural landscape of Castro County in the Texas Panhandle. Depending on the season, the view includes green wheat pastures, snow-white cotton, golden-yellow corn, as well as cattle and horses. For travelers interested in agricultural landscapes, this seasonal view complements the historic buildings with a different focus.
At the Castro County Museum, two World War II barracks house historic agricultural equipment. They were relocated from a prisoner-of-war camp near Hereford, 20 miles away. The museum thus brings together an agricultural collection and wartime buildings.
Explore destinations: Dimmitt, Hart.
More destinations: San Patricio County, Hutchinson County, Gaines County, Jim Hogg County, Bell, Maverick County.
Go to the main travel overview: Texas.
