Geography of Childress County
Small towns and open country define Childress County. Its 6,643 residents are spread across 710 square miles, giving the county a density typical of rural Texas.
It lies in the Panhandle region at about 34.53° N, 100.21° W and is 214th in size among Texas's 254 counties. It is a border county, touching Oklahoma. Childress County shares boundaries with 4 other Texas counties, and the closest major cities are Amarillo (about 104 miles away in a straight line) and Wichita Falls (about 107 miles).
The Texas Panhandle sits atop the High Plains, a nearly flat tableland cut by the Canadian River and the canyons of the Caprock. Wheat, grain sorghum, feedlots, wind energy and natural gas define the area, and winters here are the coldest in Texas.
For a broader view of how Childress 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 6,643 residents across 710 square miles, Childress County has a population density of about 9.4 people per square mile. Like much of West and South Texas, the county is sparsely populated, with wide-open country between settlements.
County seat: Childress
County government for Childress County is based in Childress — one of several Texas county seats that carry the same name as their county. The commissioners court, made up of a county judge and four precinct commissioners, meets here and sets the county budget, roads policy and tax rate. For many residents, a trip to Childress combines county business with groceries, school events and church.
History & name origin
Childress County was established in 1876 and was named for George Campbell Childress (1804–1841), one of the authors of the Texas Declaration of Independence. It was carved from territory previously part of Bexar County.
Childress County, Texas — frequently asked questions
Quick answers about Childress 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 Childress County, Texas located?+
Childress County is located in the Panhandle region of Texas at approximately 34.529° N, 100.208° W. It is one of the 254 counties of Texas and carries U.S. Census FIPS code 48075. The interactive map on this page renders the official U.S. Census TIGER boundary for Childress County over real-world OpenStreetMap, Esri satellite, and topographic basemaps.
How big is Childress County in square miles?+
Childress County covers approximately 710 square miles of land in the Panhandle region — a mid-sized Texas county. By land area it ranks 214th 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 Childress County, Texas?+
Childress County has a population of approximately 6,643 residents. With 710 square miles of land, that works out to a population density of about 9.4 people per square mile, which is sparsely populated for a Texas county. That makes Childress County the 188th most populous of the 254 counties in Texas.
What is the county seat of Childress County?+
Childress is the county seat of Childress County, Texas, which was organized in 1876 and named for George Campbell Childress (1804–1841), one of the authors of the Texas Declaration of Independence. Childress County was originally carved out of Bexar County. County government offices, courthouses, and most public records for Childress County are located in Childress.
Which Texas counties border Childress County?+
Childress County shares borders with Hall, Hardeman, Cottle, and Collingsworth 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 Panhandle region.
Where can I download or print a map of Childress County?+
Use the "Download PDF" button below the Childress 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 Childress 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 Childress County, Texas?+
The full 5-digit U.S. Census FIPS code for Childress County is 48075, made up of Texas state code 48 and the 3-digit county code 075. 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.