Originally a part of Pickens County, Chickasaw Nation, Love County was named in honor of Overton Love, a prominent judge of the Chickasaws and landowner after the Civil War.

The county seat, according to some, was named Marietta by its first postmaster, Jerry C. Washington, for his wife, Mary, and his sister, Etta. Others contend the town was named for Marietta, Pennsylvania. The County Courthouse, built in 1910, was the first courthouse built in Oklahoma after statehood.

Marietta is served by I-35, S.H. 32, and S.H. 77, and the Santa Fe Railroad. Industries include Murray Biscuit Co, LLC, Marietta Sportswear, Robertson Hams, Rapistan Systems, Earth Energy Systems, and the Joe Brown Company. Texaco, Chevron, and Cimarron Transmission manufacture propane, butane, and natural gas. The Marietta Monitor, a weekly newspaper, has been owned and operated by the same family since 1896.

Several famous horse ranches and cattle ranches are located in the county. The largest early-day ranch was operated by William E. Washington. Agricultural products include pecans, grains, hay, peanuts, and watermelons, while sheep and hogs are also raised.

Love County annually celebrates Frontier Days on the first Friday and Saturday of June. For more information, call the county clerk's office at 580/276-3059. County narrative provided courtesy of the Oklahoma Department of Libraries (www.odl.state.ok.us) from the "2002-2004 Oklahoma Almanac."

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