Geography of Crane County
Few places in Texas are as wide open as Crane County. Only around 4,554 people live in its 786 square miles, and ranchland stretches for miles between settlements.
It lies in the West Texas region at about 31.43° N, 102.52° W and is 202nd in size among Texas's 254 counties. Crane County shares boundaries with 5 other Texas counties, and the closest major cities are Midland (about 47 miles away in a straight line) and San Angelo (about 122 miles).
West Texas is a land of long horizons: rolling plains, mesas and desert grassland where cotton farms, cattle ranches and the oilfields of the Permian Basin are the main sources of work. Distances between towns are measured in hours, not minutes.
For a broader view of how Crane 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 4,554 residents across 786 square miles, Crane County has a population density of about 5.8 people per square mile. Like much of West and South Texas, the county is sparsely populated, with wide-open country between settlements.
County seat: Crane
County government for Crane County is based in Crane — 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. In a county this sparsely settled, Crane may be one of only a few incorporated towns.
History & name origin
Crane County was established in 1887 and was named for William Carey Crane, a president of Baylor University. It was carved from territory previously part of Tom Green County.
Crane County, Texas — frequently asked questions
Quick answers about Crane 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 Crane County, Texas located?+
Crane County is located in the West Texas region of Texas at approximately 31.429° N, 102.516° W. It is one of the 254 counties of Texas and carries U.S. Census FIPS code 48103. The interactive map on this page renders the official U.S. Census TIGER boundary for Crane County over real-world OpenStreetMap, Esri satellite, and topographic basemaps.
How big is Crane County in square miles?+
Crane County covers approximately 786 square miles of land in the West Texas region — a mid-sized Texas county. By land area it ranks 202nd 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 Crane County, Texas?+
Crane County has a population of approximately 4,554 residents. With 786 square miles of land, that works out to a population density of about 5.8 people per square mile, which is sparsely populated for a Texas county. That makes Crane County the 205th most populous of the 254 counties in Texas.
What is the county seat of Crane County?+
Crane is the county seat of Crane County, Texas, which was organized in 1887 and named for William Carey Crane, a president of Baylor University. Crane County was originally carved out of Tom Green County. County government offices, courthouses, and most public records for Crane County are located in Crane.
Which Texas counties border Crane County?+
Crane County shares borders with Pecos, Ward, Crockett, Ector, and Upton counties. These 5 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 Crane County?+
Use the "Download PDF" button below the Crane 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 Crane 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 Crane County, Texas?+
The full 5-digit U.S. Census FIPS code for Crane County is 48103, made up of Texas state code 48 and the 3-digit county code 103. 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.