[2] The county was created at statehood in 1907 and named for Overton Love, a prominent Chickasaw farmer, entrepreneur and politician.

The Louisiana Purchase, effected in 1803, included all of the present state of Oklahoma except the Panhandle.

Explorers and traders began travelling extensively through the area, intending to find trade routes to Santa Fe.

His settlement became known as Love's Valley (about 6 miles (9.7 km) east of the present town of Marietta).

He later became one of the largest Chickasaw landowners and cattle raisers in the area, working 8,000 acres (3,200 ha) of Red River Bottomland.

Love County is within the Red River Plains physiographic region, with a rolling to hilly topography.

Love County is home to Winstar World Casino, across the Red River from the Texas-Oklahoma border.

The casino is operated by the Chickasaw Nation, and is the county's largest private employer.

Leading non-agricultural employers include the Marietta Bakery, Murray Biscuit Company, Marietta Sportswear, Robertson Hams, Rapistan Systems, Earth Energy Systems, and the Joe Brown Company.