Geography of Dawson County
Dawson County sits at roughly 32.74° N and 101.95° W in the West Texas region of Texas, spanning 902 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 Lamesa, and the county shares boundaries with 5 neighboring counties.
Population & demographics
With approximately 11,776 residents across 902 square miles, Dawson County has a population density of about 13.1 people per square mile. Like much of West and South Texas, the county is sparsely populated, with wide-open country between settlements.
County seat: Lamesa
Lamesa serves as the seat of government for Dawson 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
Dawson County was established in 1876 and was named for Nicholas Mosby Dawson, a soldier of the Texan Revolution and victim of the Dawson Massacre. It was carved from territory previously part of Bexar County.
Dawson County, Texas — frequently asked questions
Quick answers about Dawson 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 Dawson County, Texas located?+
Dawson County is located in the West Texas region of Texas at approximately 32.742° N, 101.948° W. It is one of the 254 counties of Texas and carries U.S. Census FIPS code 48115. The interactive map on this page renders the official U.S. Census TIGER boundary for Dawson County over real-world OpenStreetMap, Esri satellite, and topographic basemaps.
How big is Dawson County in square miles?+
Dawson County covers approximately 902 square miles of land in the West Texas region — a mid-sized Texas county. By land area it ranks 142nd 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 Dawson County, Texas?+
Dawson County has a population of approximately 11,776 residents. With 902 square miles of land, that works out to a population density of about 13.1 people per square mile, which is rural for a Texas county. That makes Dawson County the 157th most populous of the 254 counties in Texas.
What is the county seat of Dawson County?+
Lamesa is the county seat of Dawson County, Texas, which was organized in 1876 and named for Nicholas Mosby Dawson, a soldier of the Texan Revolution and victim of the Dawson Massacre. Dawson County was originally carved out of Bexar County. County government offices, courthouses, and most public records for Dawson County are located in Lamesa.
Which Texas counties border Dawson County?+
Dawson County shares borders with Lynn, Martin, Terry, Borden, and Gaines 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 Dawson County?+
A free, print-ready PDF map of Dawson 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 Dawson 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 Dawson County, Texas?+
The full 5-digit U.S. Census FIPS code for Dawson County is 48115, made up of Texas state code 48 and the 3-digit county code 115. 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.