Hallettsville, Texas

In a state where almost every town has a story worth hearing, Hallettsville in south-central Texas manages to stand out in unforgettable ways. It’s a place where the courthouse is grand enough to star in Hollywood films, where dominoes and fiddling have their own halls of fame, and where even Ripley’s Believe It or Not! found the details too perfectly odd to ignore.

This is a story of legacy, music, folklore, architecture, and the kind of quirks that make small-town Texas endlessly fascinating.

Hallettsville Origins and Early Days

The community that would become this town began to take shape in the mid-19th century. It was officially founded in 1836, and just over a decade later, in 1852, it became the seat of Lavaca County. Its name honors Margaret Hallett, the widow of John Hallett, who donated land for the development of the town. Before that, the county’s affairs were conducted in the now-defunct community of Petersburg, where, following the destruction of the original log courthouse by fire, judicial matters were temporarily handled beneath a live oak tree—a literal open-air courtroom.

The county itself has a peculiar history. Lavaca was originally established in 1842 as “La Baca,” one of several judicial counties created by the Congress of the Republic of Texas. These judicial counties were later deemed unconstitutional, but Lavaca was officially reborn by the State of Texas in 1846 and formally organized that same year.

A Courthouse Worth Celebrating

One of the most striking features of this town is its courthouse square, anchored by the stunning Lavaca County Courthouse. The current building is actually the third courthouse to occupy the site since the county seat moved from Petersburg in 1852. Constructed between 1897 and 1899, it stands as a powerful example of Richardsonian Romanesque architecture.

The building is crafted from Mineral Wells brown sandstone, with contrasting trim of grey stone from Mills County. It was designed by renowned Houston architect Eugene T. Heiner, whose imprint can be found on many public buildings throughout Texas. Contractors A.T. Lucas and the Stadtler brothers brought the design to life.

More Than Just a Pretty Square

The downtown square is one of the most visually compelling in Texas. Brick storefronts, early 20th-century facades, and an array of local businesses wrap around the courthouse lawn, forming the kind of picture-perfect town center that has, in fact, caught Hollywood’s attention.

In 1982, filmmakers selected this historic square to stand in for fictional town scenes in The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas. While the actual events that inspired the film took place a bit farther north, the Lavaca County Courthouse and its surroundings offered just the right look and feel for the big screen.

It wouldn’t be the last time this location made it into the movies. In 2009, the horror film Hallettsville, starring Gary Busey and Derek Lee Nixon, used the town as its namesake and backdrop. The fictional tone in that case leaned more toward the supernatural, but the town’s cinematic charm remained firmly intact.

Halls of Fame and High-Stakes Games

Beyond the architecture and film credits, the town offers another layer of appeal through its trio of unique halls of fame.

First, the Texas Championship Domino Hall of Fame celebrates a game that has long brought neighbors together across kitchen tables and small-town cafés. This community has a deep connection to the tradition of dominoes, and the hall is a testament to that enduring pastime.

Then there’s the Texas Fiddlers Hall of Fame, which honors the role of fiddle music in the state’s cultural life. From porch sessions to festival stages, fiddling is both heritage and ongoing art form here.

Finally, the Texas State Championship High School Rodeo Hall of Fame recognizes the athletes, horses, and rodeo legends who got their start spinning ropes and riding bulls in high school arenas.

Together, these three institutions help make the town a focal point for Texas traditions that often get overlooked in more modern or urban settings.

Curiosities and Cultural Moments

This community has had its fair share of odd trivia and interesting visitors. In 1913, it gained brief national notoriety when Ripley’s Believe It or Not! dubbed it the “13 City.” At the time, it had 13 letters in its name, a population of 1,300, 13 churches, 13 newspapers, and yes—13 saloons.

Singer-songwriter Robert Earl Keen gave the town a shout-out in his song “Armadillo Jackal,” citing it as a place where you could earn $2.50 for a dead armadillo. It’s a strange compliment, but a memorable one.

And the town even found itself visited by French adventurer and TV host Antoine de Maximy, who featured it in his show J’irai dormir chez vous (I’ll Come Sleep in Your House). His journey through America brought him face to face with the town’s hospitality, humor, and quiet uniqueness.

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Today and Tomorrow

Present-day life here continues to revolve around a blend of community tradition and modern touches. Annual festivals, rodeos, and musical events keep the calendar full. The downtown area remains active with small businesses, cafés, antique shops, and local services. Visitors often find themselves drawn to the atmosphere of the square and the towering presence of the courthouse, where time seems to move a bit slower.

The town manages to hold onto what made it special from the beginning—its sense of identity, love for local heritage, and its way of weaving stories from history, music, games, and film into the fabric of everyday life.

It’s not just a place on the map. Hallettsville is a town where past and present don’t just coexist—they dance. Sometimes with a fiddle, sometimes over a game of dominoes, and occasionally, in front of a rolling film camera.