Osage

Formed November 16, 1907 (62^nd county)

Osage County (45,823), Pawhuska (2,989), Skiatook (8,453)

The stately masonry Classical Revival courthouse sits on a hill overlooking Pawhuska.  It was built in 1914 at Grandview and Sixth.  United States Highway 60 is two blocks south of the site.  C. E. Hair and Company provided the designs for the facility.  The building was renovated in 2010.  It is the only permanent courthouse for the county since the November 16, 1907 organization thus Pawhuska is the only county seat.  Osage County was formed from the Cherokee Nation as the 62^nd county.  The county’s name comes from the Native American tribe.  Pawhuska was named for Osage Chief, Pa-hue-Skah. 

Osage County government consists of a treasurer, a sheriff, an assessor, and a clerk (executive).  It has 3 Commissioners (legislative.)  Two District Court Judges and a court clerk serve Osage County (judicial.)  The county is on the north central edge of the state bordering Kansas.  Tulsa, Oklahoma is southeast and Wichita, Kansas, is northwest.  Ranching and farming contribute to the economy of this area.  The county center is 7.8 miles South of Pawhuska nearer Wynona.  The county is surrounded clockwise by Kansas and Washington, Tulsa, Creek, Pawnee, Noble, and Kay counties. 

The area of the county is 2251 square miles.  It is 1 out of 77 in the state.  It ranks 20 out of 77 in population in the state.  It has a density of 20.4 persons per square mile making it 42 out of 77 in the state.  Osage County has 49.1% of its population in its incorporated areas.  United States Highway 60 crosses from the east to the west, Washington County to Kay County.  United States Highways 64/412 go jointly across the southern tip of the county from Tulsa County into Pawnee County south.  The county has straight borders on the east and north and parts of the west and south.  The northwest to southeast border follows the meandering Arkansas River.  Tulsa city limits extend into Osage County.  Pawhuska is located in the east of the county.  The largest city is located on the southeast border of the county and extends into Tulsa County.  Pawhuska is the county seat and Skiatook is the largest city.  Pawhuska is 6.5% of the county population while Skiatook is 18.5% of the county population.  The county is pronounced OE-SAEJ.  The county seat is pronounced PA-HUE-SKAH.  This county is in the Tulsa Metropolitan Statistical Area.