Formed November 16, 1907 (40th county)
Ellis County (3,747), Arnett (498), Shattuck (1,248)
The red brick 1912 Neo-Classical courthouse dominates this small community. The building is located on the square at the intersection of Renfrow (United States Highway 60) and Washington. The building architect is Patrick Henry Weathers. The building was enlarged in the 1930’s. A veterans memorial wall sits on the grounds. It is the only courthouse for the county since its founding on November 16, 1907 although Grand was designated as the county seat before Arnett. The county was carved from parts of Roger Mills and Woodward counties as the 40th county. Ellis County was named for Albert H. Ellis, vice president of the Oklahoma Constitutional Convention. Arnett was named for minister, A. S. Arnett.
Ellis County government consists of a treasurer, a sheriff, an assessor, and a clerk (executive). It has 3 Commissioners (legislative.) Seven District Court Judges serve Ellis, Beckham, Custer, Roger Mills and Washita counties and a court clerk serves Ellis County (judicial.) The county is located in the northwest part of the state along the Texas border and northwest of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. The county center is 13.9 miles North-Northeast of Arnett nearer Gage. The county is surrounded clockwise by Harper, Woodward, Dewey, and Roger Mills counties and Texas and Beaver County.
The area of the county is 1229 square miles. It is 12 out of 77 in the state. It ranks 73 out of 77 in population in the state. It has a density of 3.0 persons per square mile making it 74 out of 77 in the state. Ellis County has 66.5% of its population in its incorporated areas. United States Highway 60 crosses east to west from Dewey County to Texas. A shopping cart best describes the shape of the county. The Canadian River forms the southern border. Texas is the western border. The City of Arnett is south and west of the county center. Shattuck is located in the western quarter of the county. Arnett is the county seat and Shattuck is the largest city. Arnett is 13.3% of the county population while Shattuck is 33.3% of the county population.
Arnett
Fargo
Gage
Shattuck
