Elk County is named for the elk residing in the region.
Surrounding County Courthouses:
N – McKean County
E – Cameron County
S – Clearfield County and Jefferson County
W – Forest County
Created: April 18, 1843 
County Seat:
Ridgway 1843 – present
County Courthouse – Ridgway
Location: 205 Main Street / Broad Street
Built: 1879 – 1880
Style: Second Empire
Architect: J P Marston of Maine
Contractor: J P Marston of Maine
Description: The building faces west and is a two story red colored brick and stone structure. The building is located on landscaped grounds in the center of Ridgway. The west front has a projecting center section with two arches framed with gray colored stone on the first story. Above are two large arched windows with pediment at the top. On the northwest and northeast corners are mansard towers. There are arched windows with stone trim around the upper part. There is stone trim along the corners. Behind the west section is a large clock tower with cupola at the top. On the southwest side is an annex attached by a hallway and built in 1970. The architect was Rodgers & Frederick of Harrisburg and the contractor was B Manno Corporation of Ridgway. On the south side is the County Jail.
See: The architect, J P Marston of Maine also constructed the courthouse in Warren County,
History: The county was created in 1843 and Ridgway was selected as the county seat. The first court met in a schoolhouse in Caledonia in 1843. The next session was held in a school in Ridgway in 1844. The first courthouse was a wood frame structure built by Levis G Clover and Edward B Derby in 1845. The second and present courthouse was constructed in 1879 to 1880.
County Courthouse – Redgway
County Jail – Ridgway
Photos taken 2011