Geography of Bailey County
Bailey County sits at roughly 34.07° N and 102.83° W in the West Texas region of Texas, spanning 827 square miles of terrain that includes the landscape characteristic of the area — from open ranchland and farmland to small-town main streets. The county's centroid is near Muleshoe, and the county shares boundaries with 3 neighboring counties.
Population & demographics
With approximately 6,963 residents across 827 square miles, Bailey County has a population density of about 8.4 people per square mile. Like much of West and South Texas, the county is sparsely populated, with wide-open country between settlements.
County seat: Muleshoe
Muleshoe serves as the seat of government for Bailey County. The county courthouse, commissioners court, district clerk, and primary public records are located here. As with all 254 Texas counties, the county seat is the anchor of civic life and the principal address for elections, permits, and court filings.
History & name origin
Bailey County was established in 1876 and was named for Peter James Bailey III, a soldier and defender of the Alamo. It was carved from territory previously part of Bexar County.
Bailey County, Texas — frequently asked questions
Quick answers about Bailey County geography, population, county seat, neighboring counties, and how to use the maps on this page. Every answer is generated from the official U.S. Census data backing this site.
Where is Bailey County, Texas located?+
Bailey County is located in the West Texas region of Texas at approximately 34.069° N, 102.830° W. It is one of the 254 counties of Texas and carries U.S. Census FIPS code 48017. The interactive map on this page renders the official U.S. Census TIGER boundary for Bailey County over real-world OpenStreetMap, Esri satellite, and topographic basemaps.
How big is Bailey County in square miles?+
Bailey County covers approximately 827 square miles of land in the West Texas region — a mid-sized Texas county. By land area it ranks 193rd 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 Bailey County, Texas?+
Bailey County has a population of approximately 6,963 residents. With 827 square miles of land, that works out to a population density of about 8.4 people per square mile, which is sparsely populated for a Texas county. That makes Bailey County the 185th most populous of the 254 counties in Texas.
What is the county seat of Bailey County?+
Muleshoe is the county seat of Bailey County, Texas, which was organized in 1876 and named for Peter James Bailey III, a soldier and defender of the Alamo. Bailey County was originally carved out of Bexar County. County government offices, courthouses, and most public records for Bailey County are located in Muleshoe.
Which Texas counties border Bailey County?+
Bailey County shares borders with Cochran, Lamb, and Parmer counties. These 3 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 Bailey County?+
A free, print-ready PDF map of Bailey County is available from the "Download PDF" button at the top of this page. The printable layout uses authentic U.S. Census TIGER boundary geometry for Bailey County, includes a Texas locator inset, and is sized for standard 8.5" × 11" Letter paper. For interactive use, the live Leaflet map on this page supports OpenStreetMap, Esri satellite, Esri topographic, and Carto light basemaps with zoom, scale bar, and fullscreen.
What is the FIPS code for Bailey County, Texas?+
The full 5-digit U.S. Census FIPS code for Bailey County is 48017, made up of Texas state code 48 and the 3-digit county code 017. 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.