Garvin

Formed January 1, 1906 (25^th county)

Garvin County (25,655), Pauls Valley (6,035)

The Classical Revival courthouse of Garvin County is located on Grant (Oklahoma State Highway 19 and United States Highway 77) between Willow and Walnut.  This structure was built in 1918.  Jewell Hicks was the designer of the masonry building.  The building has been enlarged.  It is the only courthouse to serve the county thus Pauls Valley is the only county seat.  Veteran memorials are on the grounds.  The county was organized on January 1, 1906 as the 25^th county.  The county got its name from Samuel Garvin, a prominent Chickasaw Native American.  The county was part of the Chickasaw Nation.  Pauls Valley was named for Smith Paul, the first white settler in this part of the Washita River valley. 

Garvin County government consists of a sheriff and 3 Commissioners.  Ten District Court Judges serve Garvin, Cleveland, and McClain counties.  The county is situated in south central Oklahoma south of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.  The county center is 9.7 miles West of Pauls Valley near Antioch.  The county is surrounded clockwise by McClain, Pontotoc, Murray, Carter, Stephens, and Grady counties. 

The area of the county is 809 square miles.  It is 38 out of 77 in the state.  It ranks 35 out of 77 in population in the state.  It has a density of 31.7 persons per square mile making it 34 out of 77 in the state.  Garvin County has 59.2% of its population in its incorporated areas.  Interstate Highway 35 crosses north to south from McClain County into Murray County.  United States Highway 77 parallels Interstate Highway 35 from McClain County to Murray County.  United States Highway 177 goes north to south on the east side of the county from Pottawatomie County to Murray County.  The county’s shape is a fat headed T.  Pauls Valley is in the northeast quarter of the county.  Pauls Valley is the county seat and the largest city.  It is 23.5% of the county population.