Ector County is named for Mathew Ector, who was a Confederate general.
Surrounding County Courthouses:
N – Andrews County
E – Midland County
S – Crane County
W – Winkler County
Created: February 26, 1887 
County Seat:
Odessa 1891 – present
County Courthouse – Odessa
Location: 300 North Grant Avenue / East 3rd Street
Built: 1938 – 1939
Style: Modern
Architect: Elmer Withers
Contractor: James T Taylor of Fort Worth
Description: The building faces southwest and is a three story white colored grill work concrete structure. The building is located in the center of Odessa. The top stories overhang over-hang the building with pillars along the first story. The central entrance is along the southwest front. The roof line is flat. The County District Court courtroom is located on the third story and the County Court courthouse is located on the second story. The building houses the State District Court, Constitutional County Court, County Court at Law and County Justice Court. The current structure was built in 1963 around the old courthouse. The architect was Peters and Fields and the contractor was J W Cooper Construction Company, Inc. An addition was constructed in 1985. The architect was Peters and Fields and the contractor was J W Cooper Construction Company, Inc.
Note: New courthouse is planned and will be built around East Second street and North Texas Avenue. The old courthouse will be demolished and the site used as a park.
See: The 7th Administrative Judicial Region has a main office in San Angelo in Tom Green County.
History: The county was created in 1887 and Odessa was selected as the county seat in 1891 when the county was organized. The first courthouse in 1891 was a frame remodeled town sanitarium moved to the present square. The first floor had rooms for the sheriff, court clerks and Odessa school, while the county and district courtroom was upstairs. The second courthouse was constructed in 1904 by G W Brillhart. The third courthouse was constructed in 1937 as a four story Art Deco structure. The cost of construction was $141,599. In 1964, the building was substantially altered and modernized.
County Courthouse – Odessa
County State District Court courtroom
County Court courtroom
Picture 1904 County Courthouse
Cornerstone 1904 County Courthouse
Photos taken 2014 and 2019