The new townsite included a space for a courthouse square, and the residents of New Cordell soon applied to move the county seat there from Cloud Chief.

Numerous brick commercial buildings were constructed on the courthouse square to house the city's new stores, professional offices, and specialty businesses.

[2] The Classical Revival courthouse, designed by Solomon Andrew Layton and his firm, is the centerpiece of the district.

Major early buildings built on the courthouse square include the city hall, Florence Hospital, an opera house, and three banks.

The U.S. Post Office, Washita County Jail, and New Cordell Fire and Police Station were added to the district in the 1930s and 1940s; all three buildings were Works Progress Administration projects and exhibit Moderne influences.