Castro

Formed August 21, 1876 (177^th county)

Castro County (7,376), Dimmitt (4,176)

The Art Deco and Modern courthouse sits on the square at United States Highway 385 and Texas State Highway 86.  Townes and Funk designed the 1940 sandstone structure.  The building was enlarged in 1971.  Three courthouses have served the county since the August 21, 1876 founding (1892, 1908 and 1940), all of which have been located in Dimmitt.  The county was taken from Bexar County as the 177^th county.  Castro County is named for Henri Castro, an early Texas pioneer.  W. C. Dimmitt promoted the area and the community and was honored with the county seat’s name.  Dimmit County honors another person and is spelled differently. 

Castro County government consists of a sheriff, a County Judge, and 4 Commissioners.  One District Court Judge serves Castro, Hale, and Swisher counties, One District Court Judge serves Castro, Hale, Lubbock, and Swisher counties, and One County Court Judge serves Castro County.  The Texas panhandle has Castro County southwest of Amarillo, Texas.  The county center is 2.8 miles East of Dimmitt.  The county is surrounded clockwise by Randall, Swisher, Hale, Lamb, Parmer, and Deaf Smith counties. 

The area of the county is 898 square miles.  It is 159 out of 254 in the state.  It ranks 182 out of 254 in population in the state.  It has a density of 8.2 persons per square mile making it 179 out of 254 in the state.  Castro County has 72.6% of its population in its incorporated areas.  United States Highway 60 crosses the extreme northwest corner from Deaf Smith County into Parmer County.  United States Highway 385 goes north to south from Deaf Smith County to Lamb County.  Another square shaped county, Dimmitt is almost exactly in the center.  Dimmitt is the county seat and the largest city.  It is 56.6% of the county population.