Geography of Brewster County
Brewster County is classic frontier Texas: 6,193 square miles of open land with only about 9,458 residents, which makes it one of the most thinly settled counties in the state (232nd of 254 by density).
It lies in the Big Bend region at about 29.81° N, 103.25° W and is one of the 25 largest counties in Texas (1st of 254). It is a border county, touching Mexico (along the Rio Grande). Brewster County shares boundaries with 4 other Texas counties, and the closest major cities are Midland (about 166 miles away in a straight line) and San Angelo (about 202 miles).
The Big Bend country is the most remote part of Texas: Chihuahuan Desert, mountain ranges and the great curve of the Rio Grande. Ranching, tourism and border trade sustain a very small population spread over enormous distances.
For a broader view of how Brewster 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 9,458 residents across 6,193 square miles, Brewster County has a population density of about 1.5 people per square mile. Like much of West and South Texas, the county is sparsely populated, with wide-open country between settlements.
County seat: Alpine
Alpine is the county seat of Brewster County. This is where the county courthouse stands and where residents go for property records, vehicle registration, marriage licenses, court cases and voter services handled by the county clerk, district clerk and tax assessor-collector. In a county this sparsely settled, Alpine may be one of only a few incorporated towns.
History & name origin
Brewster County was established in 1887 and was named for Henry Percy Brewster (1816–1884), a secretary of war for the Republic of Texas and soldier in the Civil War. It was carved from territory previously part of Presidio County.
Brewster County, Texas — frequently asked questions
Quick answers about Brewster 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 Brewster County, Texas located?+
Brewster County is located in the Big Bend region of Texas at approximately 29.812° N, 103.252° W. It is one of the 254 counties of Texas and carries U.S. Census FIPS code 48043. The interactive map on this page renders the official U.S. Census TIGER boundary for Brewster County over real-world OpenStreetMap, Esri satellite, and topographic basemaps.
How big is Brewster County in square miles?+
Brewster County covers approximately 6,193 square miles of land in the Big Bend region — one of the largest counties in Texas by land area. By land area it ranks 1st 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 Brewster County, Texas?+
Brewster County has a population of approximately 9,458 residents. With 6,193 square miles of land, that works out to a population density of about 1.5 people per square mile, which is sparsely populated for a Texas county. That makes Brewster County the 168th most populous of the 254 counties in Texas.
What is the county seat of Brewster County?+
Alpine is the county seat of Brewster County, Texas, which was organized in 1887 and named for Henry Percy Brewster (1816–1884), a secretary of war for the Republic of Texas and soldier in the Civil War. Brewster County was originally carved out of Presidio County. County government offices, courthouses, and most public records for Brewster County are located in Alpine.
Which Texas counties border Brewster County?+
Brewster County shares borders with Jeff Davis, Pecos, Terrell, and Presidio counties. These 4 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 Big Bend region.
Where can I download or print a map of Brewster County?+
Use the "Download PDF" button below the Brewster 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 Brewster 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 Brewster County, Texas?+
The full 5-digit U.S. Census FIPS code for Brewster County is 48043, made up of Texas state code 48 and the 3-digit county code 043. 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.