Details for Old County Jail
Historical Marker — Atlas Number 5141003715
Data
Marker Number | 3715 |
Atlas Number | 5141003715 |
Marker Title | Old County Jail |
Index Entry | County Jail, Old |
Address | |
City | San Elizario |
County | El Paso |
UTM Zone | 13 |
UTM Easting | 378394 |
UTM Northing | 3495621 |
Subject Codes | jails and prisons |
Marker Year | 1962 |
Recorded Texas Historic Landmark | Yes |
Marker Location | One block southeast of Central Plaza; San Elizario |
Private Property | No |
Marker Condition | In Situ |
Marker Size | Medallion & Plate |
Marker Text | This structure was built about 1850 of adobe bricks (sun-dried mud and reeds) and cottonwood logs around steel cell blocks. It served as official county jail 1850-66 and 1868-73, when San Elizario was the first and then third El Paso county seat. It housed both jail ("carcel" in Spanish) and courtroom ("juzgado"). According to legend, William Bonney, famed outlaw Billy the Kid, freed the only man ever to escape from this jail, his cohort Melquiades Seguro. Recorded Texas Historic Landmark - 1970 |