Washita County Courthouse
National Register of Historic Places

Washita County Courthouse

Cordell, Washita County, Oklahoma
Listed
August 23, 1984
Type
Building
Period
Industrial
Ref No.
84003452

About this property

The Washita County Courthouse, located in Courthouse Square in New Cordell, is the county courthouse serving Washita County, Oklahoma. The Classical Revival courthouse was built in 1910. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places on August 24, 1984. When Washita County was established in 1892, an act of Congress designated Cloud Chief as the county seat, and the county's first wood-frame courthouse was built there. After the town of Cordell moved to the New Cordell townsite, city leaders petitioned for the county seat to be moved to New Cordell, which had a more central location and a better source of water. An election transferred the county seat to New Cordell in the late 1890s, and the original courthouse building was moved in 1900; after an extended legal battle, Congress legitimized the result of the election in 1904. A new wood-frame courthouse was built in 1902; however, this building burned down in 1909. The present courthouse was built the following year. New Cordell's business district developed around the courthouse, as the relocation of the county seat was a major economic stimulus for the city. Solomon Andrew Layton, one of Oklahoma's most significant early 20th century architects, and his firm designed the Classical Revival courthouse. The three-story courthouse is topped by a copper dome with clocks on all four sides. The two main entrances, located on the east and west sides, each feature stairways leading to massive porticoes. Each portico has a triangular pediment supported by four Ionic columns. The first floor has a red brick exterior; a white water table separates it from the light brick upper floors. The courthouse's roof line features a copper entablature and projecting cornice.

Location

Cordell, Washita County, Oklahoma
35.29091, -98.98991

Categories

POLITICS/GOVERNMENTARCHITECTURE
National Register nomination ›
Sources

Property data from the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).

Description adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

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Nearby Historic Sites

New Cordell Courthouse Square Historic District
Industrial
0.1 mi
Cordell Carnegie Public Library
Industrial
0.1 mi
Y Service Station and Cafe
Colonial
13.2 mi
McLain Rogers Park
Industrial
14.9 mi
Clinton Armory
Industrial
14.9 mi

Questions about this property

When was Washita County Courthouse listed on the National Register?

Washita County Courthouse was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on August 23, 1984.

What type of historic resource is Washita County Courthouse?

Washita County Courthouse is classified as a building in the National Register of Historic Places.

What is the period of significance for Washita County Courthouse?

The period of significance for Washita County Courthouse is recorded as the industrial era, specifically around 1910.

Can I research the history near Washita County Courthouse?

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