Geography of Armstrong County
Few places in Texas are as wide open as Armstrong County. Only around 1,843 people live in its 914 square miles, and ranchland stretches for miles between settlements.
It lies in the West Texas region at about 34.97° N, 101.36° W and is 119th in size among Texas's 254 counties. Armstrong County shares boundaries with 5 other Texas counties, and the closest major cities are Amarillo (about 32 miles away in a straight line) and Lubbock (about 100 miles).
West Texas is a land of long horizons: rolling plains, mesas and desert grassland where cotton farms, cattle ranches and the oilfields of the Permian Basin are the main sources of work. Distances between towns are measured in hours, not minutes.
For a broader view of how Armstrong County fits within the state, download our free Texas map with counties and cities PDF — a printable, high-resolution reference showing all 254 Texas counties labeled with their county seats.
Population & demographics
With approximately 1,843 residents across 914 square miles, Armstrong County has a population density of about 2.0 people per square mile. Like much of West and South Texas, the county is sparsely populated, with wide-open country between settlements.
County seat: Claude
If you need an official record from Armstrong County — a deed, a birth certificate, a court filing — Claude is where it is kept. Like every Texas county seat, it hosts the courthouse and the main offices of county government. In a county this sparsely settled, Claude may be one of only a few incorporated towns.
History & name origin
Armstrong County was established in 1876 and was named for One of several Texas pioneer families, although it is not certain which one. It was carved from territory previously part of Bexar County.
Armstrong County, Texas — frequently asked questions
Quick answers about Armstrong County geography, population, county seat, neighboring counties, and how to use the maps on this page. Figures are sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau; answers are written and reviewed by the Texas County Map team.
Where is Armstrong County, Texas located?+
Armstrong County is located in the West Texas region of Texas at approximately 34.965° N, 101.357° W. It is one of the 254 counties of Texas and carries U.S. Census FIPS code 48011. The interactive map on this page renders the official U.S. Census TIGER boundary for Armstrong County over real-world OpenStreetMap, Esri satellite, and topographic basemaps.
How big is Armstrong County in square miles?+
Armstrong County covers approximately 914 square miles of land in the West Texas region — a mid-sized Texas county. By land area it ranks 119th out of 254 Texas counties. The full bounding box of the county is rendered to scale on the interactive map and matches the U.S. Census TIGER 2023 polygon.
What is the population of Armstrong County, Texas?+
Armstrong County has a population of approximately 1,843 residents. With 914 square miles of land, that works out to a population density of about 2.0 people per square mile, which is sparsely populated for a Texas county. That makes Armstrong County the 233rd most populous of the 254 counties in Texas.
What is the county seat of Armstrong County?+
Claude is the county seat of Armstrong County, Texas, which was organized in 1876 and named for One of several Texas pioneer families, although it is not certain which one. Armstrong County was originally carved out of Bexar County. County government offices, courthouses, and most public records for Armstrong County are located in Claude.
Which Texas counties border Armstrong County?+
Armstrong County shares borders with Swisher, Randall, Briscoe, Carson, and Donley counties. These 5 neighboring counties are highlighted on the schematic boundary map and linked at the bottom of this page so you can quickly compare population, area, and county seats across the West Texas region.
Where can I download or print a map of Armstrong County?+
Use the "Download PDF" button below the Armstrong County map on this page to save a letter-size PDF of the county boundary, neighboring counties and incorporated places, drawn from U.S. Census Bureau 2023 boundary files. The "Official TxDOT road map" button downloads the Texas Department of Transportation county road mapbook for Armstrong County. Both files are stored on this site and download directly. Our free Texas map with counties and cities PDF shows all 254 counties on one sheet.
What is the FIPS code for Armstrong County, Texas?+
The full 5-digit U.S. Census FIPS code for Armstrong County is 48011, made up of Texas state code 48 and the 3-digit county code 011. This is the same FIPS code used by the U.S. Census Bureau TIGER/Line files, the American Community Survey, and most federal datasets that key on county.