Formed August 21, 1876 (181st county)
Cottle County (1,505), Paducah (1,186)
The many contours to the tan brick Modern and Art Deco structure helps to provide its uniqueness. Built in 1930 from the design of Voelcker and Dixon, it is located on the square. United States Highways 70 and 83 intersect at the square. Both county courthouses (1893 and 1930) have been located in Paducah since the county formation on August 21, 1876. The county was part of Bexar County and the 181st county. Cottle County is named for Alamo veteran George Washington Cottle. Paducah’s namesake is Paducah, Kentucky where many local settlers originated.
The area of the county is 902 square miles. It is 156 out of 254 in the state. It ranks 241 out of 254 in population in the state. It has a density of 1.67 persons per square mile making it 234 out of 254 in the state. Cottle County has 78.8% of its population in its incorporated areas. United States Highway 62 enters from the north, Childress County but exits to the west, Motley County. United States Highway 70 crosses east to west from Foard County, joins United States Highway 62 at Paducah, and goes into Motley County. United States Highway 83 goes north to south in the county coming in from Childress County with United States Highway 62, splitting at Paducah, and exiting into King County.
Cottle County government consists of a sheriff, a County Judge, and 4 Commissioners. One District Court Judge serves Cottle, Baylor, King and Knox counties and One County Court Judge serves Cottle County. This tall rectangle shaped county is in the panhandle south and east of Amarillo, Texas and northeast of Lubbock, Texas. The county center is 10.2 miles North of Paducah. The county is surrounded clockwise by Childress, Hardeman, Foard, King, Dickens, Motley, and Hall counties. Paducah is slightly south and west of center. Paducah is the county seat and, as the only incorporated city, it is the largest city. It is 78.8% of the county population. The county is pronounced KOT-TEL. The county seat is pronounced PA-DOO-KA.
Paducah
