Geography of Brewster County
Brewster County sits at roughly 29.81° N and 103.25° W in the Big Bend region of Texas, spanning 6,193 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 Alpine, and the county shares boundaries with 4 neighboring counties.
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 serves as the seat of government for Brewster 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
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. Every answer is generated from the official U.S. Census data backing this site.
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?+
A free, print-ready PDF map of Brewster 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 Brewster 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 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.