Payne County, located in north-central Oklahoma, was part of the territory settled in the 1889 Land Run and is named for boomer leader David L. Payne. Oklahoma State University in Stillwater, established in 1890, became an economic center for the county. At the turn of the 20th century, railroads were built in Payne County. The Sheerar Museum of Stillwater History features exhibits about Stillwater and Payne County history. Near Stillwater, Lake Carl Blackwell offers fishing, camping and water sports. In Perkins, the Oklahoma Territorial Plaza features restored buildings from territorial days.
In 2020, census records showed 81,646 people living in Payne County. Countless assets exist for tracing genealogy in Payne County including legal records, cemetery records and a local historical society. Valuable resources for researching genealogy in Payne County are provided below, including a list of existing towns, a list of ghost towns, the county courthouse address, a detailed map of the county and a list of cemeteries located within the county. A list of places to visit in Payne County is also provided for visitors to the area.
Payne County Courthouse Information
Payne County Clerk
6th & Husband
Stillwater, OK 74074
Telephone: (405) 747-8310
Records available: Court Clerk has marriage, divorce, probate, civil court records from 1894; County Clerk has land records.
Payne County Website: http://www.paynecounty.org/
Detailed Map of Payne County
Search for cemeteries, highways and scenic sites, or examine county and township lines with this detailed map of Payne County.
Existing Towns in Payne County
While researching your family history in Payne County, be sure to visit Stillwater, the largest town in the county. The following towns and cities are located in present day Payne County, Oklahoma.
Ghost Towns in Payne County
The following towns and cities either no longer exist in Payne County or are still populated, but significantly less so than in years past. These towns and cities are commonly referred to as "ghost towns."
Marena
Mehan
Schlegal
Cemeteries in Payne County
The following cemeteries are located in present day Payne County, Oklahoma.
Church of the Brethren Cemetery
Fairlawn Cemetery
(Stillwater)
John Kolb Family
Homestead Cemetery
Sunset Memorial Gardens
and Mausoleum
Union Cemetery
Libraries in Payne County
Cushing Public Library
215 N. Steele Ave.
Cushing, OK 74023
Telephone: (918) 225-4188
Thomas-Wilhite Memorial Library
101 E. Thomas
Perkins, OK 74059
Telephone: (405) 547-5185
Stillwater Public Library
1107 S. Duck
Stillwater, OK 74074
Telephone: (405) 372-3633
Yale Public Library
213 N. Main
Yale, OK 74085
Telephone: (918) 387-2135
Historic Newspaper Archives of Payne County
Tribal Nations in Payne County
Iowa Tribe of Oklahoma
Rt 1 Box 721
Perkins, OK 74059
Telephone: (405) 547-2402
Additional Genealogy Resources for Payne County
Payne County Genealogical Society
P.O. Box 2708
Stillwater, OK 74076
Payne County Historical Society
P.O. Box 194
Stillwater, OK 74074
Cushing Genealogical Society
P.O. Box 551
Cushing, OK 74023
Places to Visit in Payne County
While researching your family history in Payne County, be sure to check out the following attractions located in the area.
Historical Cultural Landscape
Self-Guided Driving Tours
Iowa Tribe's Grey Snow Eagle House
National Wrestling Hall of Fame & Museum
Oklahoma State University Athletics
