Geography of Culberson County
Culberson County sits at roughly 31.45° N and 104.52° W in the West Texas region of Texas, spanning 3,813 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 Van Horn, and the county shares boundaries with 3 neighboring counties.
Population & demographics
With approximately 2,267 residents across 3,813 square miles, Culberson County has a population density of about 0.6 people per square mile. Like much of West and South Texas, the county is sparsely populated, with wide-open country between settlements.
County seat: Van Horn
Van Horn serves as the seat of government for Culberson 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
Culberson County was established in 1911 and was named for David Browning Culberson, a lawyer, U.S. Congressman, and soldier in the Civil War. It was carved from territory previously part of El Paso County.
Culberson County, Texas — frequently asked questions
Quick answers about Culberson 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 Culberson County, Texas located?+
Culberson County is located in the West Texas region of Texas at approximately 31.447° N, 104.517° W. It is one of the 254 counties of Texas and carries U.S. Census FIPS code 48109. The interactive map on this page renders the official U.S. Census TIGER boundary for Culberson County over real-world OpenStreetMap, Esri satellite, and topographic basemaps.
How big is Culberson County in square miles?+
Culberson County covers approximately 3,813 square miles of land in the West Texas region — a large county by Texas standards. By land area it ranks 5th 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 Culberson County, Texas?+
Culberson County has a population of approximately 2,267 residents. With 3,813 square miles of land, that works out to a population density of about 0.6 people per square mile, which is sparsely populated for a Texas county. That makes Culberson County the 230th most populous of the 254 counties in Texas.
What is the county seat of Culberson County?+
Van Horn is the county seat of Culberson County, Texas, which was organized in 1911 and named for David Browning Culberson, a lawyer, U.S. Congressman, and soldier in the Civil War. Culberson County was originally carved out of El Paso County. County government offices, courthouses, and most public records for Culberson County are located in Van Horn.
Which Texas counties border Culberson County?+
Culberson County shares borders with Jeff Davis, Hudspeth, and Reeves counties. These 3 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 Culberson County?+
A free, print-ready PDF map of Culberson 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 Culberson 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 Culberson County, Texas?+
The full 5-digit U.S. Census FIPS code for Culberson County is 48109, made up of Texas state code 48 and the 3-digit county code 109. 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.