Payne County is named for David Lewis Payne, who was an American soldier and called the “Father of Oklahoma” for his work in opening the state to settlement.
Surrounding County Courthouses:
N – Noble County and Pawnee County
E – Creek County
S – Lincoln County and Logan County
W – Logan County
Created: May 2, 1890 
County Seat:
Stillwater 1890 – present
County Courthouse – Stillwater
Location: 606 South Husband Street / West 6th Street
Built: 1915 – 1916
Style: Neo-Classical
Architect: Hair, Tonini and Bramblet
Contractor: Lisle Dunning Construction Company
Description: The building faces north and is a three story red colored brick, stone and concrete structure. The building is located on landscaped grounds in the center of Stillwater. The building is located on landscaped grounds in the center of Stillwater. The first story is of rusticated stone, with a pronounced horizontal shadow line. The east, or front facade, is semicircular, projecting approximately 20 feet from the corner of the building. Half-round Ionic pilasters separate the window bays of the second and third stories. The other sides of the building have four similar pilasters delineating a slightly-recessed area accommodating three window bays. The entryways, one of each side, have small pediments supported by scrolled brackets. The building has a stone frieze and a modillioned cornice which is surmounted by an attic story. The north front has two columns rising from the second story to the top of the third story. The building houses the County District Court of the 9th Judicial District. An addition was constructed on the west side in 1965. The architect was Stephens, Young & Irby and the contractor was Yarbo Construction Company. An addition was constructed in 2005.
See: The architect, Tonini and Bramblet ( and associates ), designed courthouses in Kansas in Crawford County and Oklahoma in Alfalfa County, Cotton County, Major County, Okmulgee County, Tillman County and Wooward County.
See: National Register of Historic Places – Payne County Courthouse
County Courthouse Annex – Stillwater
Location: 606 South Husband Street / West 6th Street
Built: 2008 – 2009
Style: Modern
Architect: BKL Incorporated of Tulsa
Contractor: Lambert Construction of Stillwater
Description: The building faces east and is a three red colored brick and concrete structure. The building is located on landscaped grounds in the center of Stillwater on the southwest side of the courthouse. The east entrance is semi-circular with dark glass. The base of the building is stone. Wide horizontal stone bands run between the first and second stories and between the second and third stories. The roof line is flat. The building is attached to the courthouse along the north side.
See: The architect, BKL Incorporated of Tulsa, designed courthouses in Craig County, Mayes County and Ottawa County.
See: The 9th Judicial District includes Logan County.
History: The county was created in 1890 and was original named Sixth County. Stillwater was selected as the county seat. The first courthouse was a two story structure built by Don Ragland in 1895. The second and present courthouse was constructed in 1915 to 1916. The County Courthouse Annex was constructed in 2008 to 2009.
County Administration Building – Stillwater
Location: 315 West 6th Street / Duck Street
Built: 2000 – 2002
Style: Modern
Architect: BKL Incorporated of Tulsa
Contractor: Lippert Brothers Inc. of Stillwater
Description: The building faces north and is a three red colored brick, steel and concrete structure. The rectangular shaped building is located on landscaped grounds in the center of Stillwater to the west of the courthouse. The north front has a curved glass central section with green colored tint and recessed entrance on the first story. The first story has cast-stone facing and the upper stories are red colored Oklahoma brick. The roof line is flat.
County Courthouse – Stillwater
County Courthouse Annex – Stillwater
Photos taken 2010