Geography of Carson County
Carson County sits at roughly 35.40° N and 101.35° W in the West Texas region of Texas, spanning 923 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 Panhandle, and the county shares boundaries with 6 neighboring counties.
Population & demographics
With approximately 5,805 residents across 923 square miles, Carson County has a population density of about 6.3 people per square mile. Like much of West and South Texas, the county is sparsely populated, with wide-open country between settlements.
County seat: Panhandle
Panhandle serves as the seat of government for Carson 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
Carson County was established in 1876 and was named for Samuel Price Carson, the first secretary of state of the Republic of Texas (1836–1838). It was carved from territory previously part of Bexar County.
Carson County, Texas — frequently asked questions
Quick answers about Carson 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 Carson County, Texas located?+
Carson County is located in the West Texas region of Texas at approximately 35.404° N, 101.354° W. It is one of the 254 counties of Texas and carries U.S. Census FIPS code 48065. The interactive map on this page renders the official U.S. Census TIGER boundary for Carson County over real-world OpenStreetMap, Esri satellite, and topographic basemaps.
How big is Carson County in square miles?+
Carson County covers approximately 923 square miles of land in the West Texas region — a mid-sized Texas county. By land area it ranks 106th 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 Carson County, Texas?+
Carson County has a population of approximately 5,805 residents. With 923 square miles of land, that works out to a population density of about 6.3 people per square mile, which is sparsely populated for a Texas county. That makes Carson County the 192nd most populous of the 254 counties in Texas.
What is the county seat of Carson County?+
Panhandle is the county seat of Carson County, Texas, which was organized in 1876 and named for Samuel Price Carson, the first secretary of state of the Republic of Texas (1836–1838). Carson County was originally carved out of Bexar County. County government offices, courthouses, and most public records for Carson County are located in Panhandle.
Which Texas counties border Carson County?+
Carson County shares borders with Hutchinson, Moore, Armstrong, Potter, Roberts, and Gray counties. These 6 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 Carson County?+
A free, print-ready PDF map of Carson 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 Carson 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 Carson County, Texas?+
The full 5-digit U.S. Census FIPS code for Carson County is 48065, made up of Texas state code 48 and the 3-digit county code 065. 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.