Ellesmere County was one of the counties of New Zealand in the South Island. It was formed in 1911, after Selwyn County had been sub-divided into 9 smaller counties, and covered the same area as the county's Ellesmere Road Board. The county was made up of three ridings, with 2 councillors each. Southbridge Town Board and Leeston Town Board (1922) merged with Ellesmere County in 1959. Springs County and the Rakaia riding of Selwyn County were added in 1963. In the 1989 local government reforms, Ellesmere, Malvern and part of Paparua Counties merged to form Selwyn District.