Ottawa County Courthouse

MIAMI, Oklahoma - December, 2025 

For more than a century, the seat of justice in Ottawa County has shifted as the community grew and civic priorities changed. From the earliest courthouse sites downtown to the modern judicial complex today, each iteration reflects a chapter in the county’s history. 

In the earliest years after Oklahoma statehood in 1907, Ottawa County’s government operated without a permanent courthouse. County business and court proceedings were conducted in rented downtown spaces until a dedicated building could be constructed. 

 In 1916, county leaders completed the first purpose-built Ottawa County Courthouse on East Central Avenue, replacing the temporary rented quarters. 

The structure quickly became a civic centerpiece for Miami and the expanding county. As the population and administrative needs of the county continued to grow, county officials undertook an extensive expansion and modernization of the 1916 building in 1952–54.

The work transformed the facility into a larger, modern courthouse, incorporating the original structure into the interior and wrapping it with a contemporary exterior façade. This version of the courthouse would stand for more than five decades. 

By the early 2000s, the mid-century courthouse faced mounting challenges. A 2003 fire code inspection revealed more than two dozen violations, including a lack of modern fire alarms, sprinkler systems and sufficient fire escapes, prompting commissioners to consider replacement rather than costly upgrades. 

County engineers also documented subsidence, or foundation settlement, particularly on the building’s west side, requiring ongoing monitoring and raising long-term structural concerns.

Citing excessive rehabilitation costs and space limitations, officials began planning for a new facility. Despite being listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2004 for its architectural and governmental significance, the mid-century courthouse’s fate was ultimately to be replaced. 

 Voters initially rejected a new construction proposal in 2003, but continued pressure from safety and space needs kept the issue alive. In early 2009, crews began the demolition of the historic 1950s courthouse on East Central Avenue. 

The structure, though historically recognized, made way for a modern courthouse designed to meet contemporary standards for public safety, accessibility and judicial operations.

From rented rooms in early Miami to a purpose-built courthouse in 1916, an expanded mid-century landmark and finally to the 21st-century judicial center, Ottawa County’s courthouses trace the revolving needs and aspirations of the community they service.

 Although a meager display case preserves some of the history, old guards tell of green marble. 

*Some photos courtesy of Dobson Museum & Home Archives