Washita County Courthouse

Washita County Courthouse (added 1984 - Building - #84003452)
Courthouse Sq., Cordell

Historic Significance: Event, Architecture/Engineering
Architect, builder, or engineer: Layton,Wemyss & Smith, Donathan & Moore
Architectural Style: Classical Revival
Area of Significance: Politics/Government, Architecture
Period of Significance: 1900-1924
Owner: Local Gov't
Historic Function: Government
Historic Sub-function: Courthouse
Current Function: Government
Current Sub-function: Courthouse

New Cordell Courthouse Square Historic District (added 1999 - District - #98001592)
Roughly bounded by Temple, E. Second, Glenn English, and E. Clay Sts., New Cordell

Historic Significance: Event, Architecture/Engineering
Architect, builder, or engineer: Layton, Solomon Andrew
Architectural Style: Early Commercial, Classical Revival
Area of Significance: Commerce, Architecture, Community Planning And Development
Period of Significance: 1875-1899, 1900-1924, 1925-1949
Owner: Private , Local Gov't , Federal
Historic Function: Commerce/Trade, Education, Government, Health Care, Recreation And Culture
Historic Sub-function: Business, City Hall, Courthouse, Financial Institution, Fire Station, Library, Specialty Store
Current Function: Commerce/Trade, Government
Current Sub-function: Business, City Hall, Courthouse, Financial Institution, Fire Station, Specialty Store

Coming of the White Man
In 1540, Coronado, the spanish explorer and governor of Mexito, traveled from Mexico through the souther great plains including this part of Oklahoma, returning via New Mexico. He claimed all of the western United States for his native Spain. French explorers claimed the same area. By 1800 Spain had sold their territoral rights to France. The Vast Territory known as Louisiana to the U.S. for 15 million dollars. Washita County, Oklahoma was part of that land.

Coming of the Indians
Beginnin about 1820, the U.S. relocated the five civilized tribes to Oklahoma. The Choctaws and the Chickasaws were located between the South Canadian and Red rivers. In 1855, the U.S. leased lands from the Choctaws to settle the plains Indians. The Cheyenne, Arapaho, Comanche, Kiowa and Apache tribes were located in the western area including what became Washita County. In 1890 the U.S. bought this surplus land from the Cheyenne and Arapaho and made it available for settlement.