La Salle County brings together striking architectural history and very different historical chapters. In Cotulla, a courthouse, several school buildings, and a church tell the story of the town’s development. The area also features historical traces of the county’s past and nature trails in Chaparral WMA. When planning a trip, visitors can choose between architecture, local history, and time outdoors.

Architecture and School History in Cotulla

The La Salle County Courthouse stands in the center of Cotulla, at the city’s highest point, facing a city park or public square. The four-story building has a concrete structure, a light brown brick facade, and decorative terra-cotta elements. Its design marks the transition from the more ornate Art Deco style to the Modern style favored in the 1930s. The courthouse thus reveals both the building materials and the shift in architectural style.

The history of Cotulla’s first school site begins with a setback: the first schoolhouse burned down after being struck by lightning. A former residence was then moved to the site. Its porch was removed, and the building, fitted with a bell, was used as the next schoolhouse. County teachers’ institutes and summer normal schools were also held at the site. It served the town’s white students until a new brick school was built on Tilden Street in 1908.

Another part of the school history is Welhausen School. The brick schoolhouse was completed in 1926 and named after County Judge G. A. Welhausen. Its classically inspired layout consists of a central block and two lower side wings; decorative tile panels provide additional accents. In the 1928–29 school year, Lyndon B. Johnson worked there as a teacher and principal. The architecture and this specific connection to Johnson make the school a distinct chapter in the town’s history.

Church, Early Settlement, and Memorial Sites

First United Methodist Church of Cotulla was founded in 1881 as the town’s first Protestant church. Its present brick sanctuary was built in 1906 during the tenure of Rev. Temple G. Woolls; an educational building was added in 1928. These dates show how the church developed physically over time.

Fort Ewell is also part of the area’s early history. Built in 1852 at Huajuco Crossing, it guarded the important road between San Antonio and Laredo. When La Salle County was established in 1880, Fort Ewell was the county’s most important settlement. O. Henry went there to collect his mail. This site connects the county’s origins with mail service at the time.

Graves dating to 1882 are marked at Cotulla Cemetery. Many graves bear the year 1886, when La Salle County was affected by a smallpox epidemic. Those buried there include community leader Joseph Cotulla and Rev. V. E. Covey, an early Texas educator. The dates on the graves and the names give the cemetery a tangible connection to the community’s history.

Onion Farming and Nature Trails

Sweet onion farming is part of the region’s food and economic history. In 1898, two local men planted Bermuda onion seeds and began selling sweet onions. This marked the beginning of a successful period of irrigated spring production in La Salle County and neighboring counties, associated with the Winter Garden Region. Onion farming is therefore not exclusive to La Salle County, but part of a larger regional story.

The Camino de Fiero Nature Trail is in Chaparral WMA and is 2.5 miles long. The Arena Roja Nature Trail is also located there and is fully accessible in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). These details answer different planning questions: the mileage describes the length of the Camino de Fiero, while ADA accessibility applies to the Arena Roja. Check current trail conditions before visiting the Arena Roja.

More Destinations

Discover more destinations: Cotulla, San Patricio County, Limestone, Cameron, Montague, Tyler, Milam County, Bastrop.

For the broader travel overview: Texas.