Woods County is named for Sam Wood, who was a populist from the State of Kansas.
Surrounding County Courthouses:
N –Comanche County, Kansas and Barber County, Kansas
E – Alfalfa County and Major County
S – Major County and Woodward County
W – Woodward County and Harper County
Created: November 6, 1893 
County Seat:
Cloud Chief 1893 – 1899
Alva 1899 – present
County Courthouse – Alva
Location: 407 Government Street / Flynn Street
Built: 1954 – 1956
Style: Modern
Architect: Joe M Mason and Edger B Wilson
Contractor: Charles T Hughes Construction Company
Description: The building faces north and is a one story buff colored brick and concrete structure. The building is located on spacious landscaped grounds in the center of Alva. The building is a “T” shape. The west wing is buff colored brick and the north-south east wing is stone. The entrance is a glass section where the wings join. The roof line is flat. In the interior is a large glass walled lobby. The building houses the County District Court of the 4th Judicial District.
See: The 4th Judicial District includes Alfalfa County, Blaine County, Dewey County, Garfield County, Grant County, Kingfisher County, Major County and Woodward County.
History: The county was created in 1893 as M County and Alva was selected as the county seat. In 1894, the name of the county was changed to Woods County. The county used rented premises until the first courthouse was designed by John J Huddart and constructed by Woods County Building and Investment Company in 1904. The building was demolished and replaced by the second and present courthouse constructed in 1954 to 1956.
County Courthouse – Alva
Picture 1904 County Courthouse
Photos taken 2010
Images 10