Cleburne's Courthouse Rose From the Ashes of a 1912 Fire

On April 15, 1912, the old courthouse on Cleburne's square burned. Johnson County hired the Dallas firm Lang and Witchell to design the replacement. The new courthouse, the county's sixth, was accepted by commissioners on November 28, 1913.

By the early 2000s, the building needed serious work. The county closed it from 2005 to 2008 for restoration. Crews brought back the historic wall colors, restored the district courtroom's height, and added modern wiring, fire protection, and access.

It still works as a courthouse. County offices, district courts, and a small museum share the building, so everyday county business happens inside a saved piece of the square.