Geography of Deaf Smith County
Deaf Smith County is a rural county of 1,497 square miles and about 18,626 residents, where farms and ranches fill most of the space between Hereford and its smaller communities.
It lies in the West Texas region at about 34.97° N, 102.61° W and is one of the 25 largest counties in Texas (22nd of 254). It is a border county, touching New Mexico. Deaf Smith County shares boundaries with 4 other Texas counties, and the closest major cities are Amarillo (about 47 miles away in a straight line) and Lubbock (about 105 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 Deaf Smith 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 18,626 residents across 1,497 square miles, Deaf Smith County has a population density of about 12.4 people per square mile. Like much of West and South Texas, the county is sparsely populated, with wide-open country between settlements.
County seat: Hereford
If you need an official record from Deaf Smith County — a deed, a birth certificate, a court filing — Hereford is where it is kept. Like every Texas county seat, it hosts the courthouse and the main offices of county government. For many residents, a trip to Hereford combines county business with groceries, school events and church.
History & name origin
Deaf Smith County was established in 1876 and was named for Erastus "Deaf" Smith (1787–1837), a scout during the Texan Revolution. It was carved from territory previously part of Bexar County.
Deaf Smith County, Texas — frequently asked questions
Quick answers about Deaf Smith 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 Deaf Smith County, Texas located?+
Deaf Smith County is located in the West Texas region of Texas at approximately 34.966° N, 102.605° W. It is one of the 254 counties of Texas and carries U.S. Census FIPS code 48117. The interactive map on this page renders the official U.S. Census TIGER boundary for Deaf Smith County over real-world OpenStreetMap, Esri satellite, and topographic basemaps.
How big is Deaf Smith County in square miles?+
Deaf Smith County covers approximately 1,497 square miles of land in the West Texas region — a mid-sized Texas county. By land area it ranks 22nd 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 Deaf Smith County, Texas?+
Deaf Smith County has a population of approximately 18,626 residents. With 1,497 square miles of land, that works out to a population density of about 12.4 people per square mile, which is rural for a Texas county. That makes Deaf Smith County the 131st most populous of the 254 counties in Texas.
What is the county seat of Deaf Smith County?+
Hereford is the county seat of Deaf Smith County, Texas, which was organized in 1876 and named for Erastus "Deaf" Smith (1787–1837), a scout during the Texan Revolution. Deaf Smith County was originally carved out of Bexar County. County government offices, courthouses, and most public records for Deaf Smith County are located in Hereford.
Which Texas counties border Deaf Smith County?+
Deaf Smith County shares borders with Oldham, Parmer, Randall, and Castro 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 West Texas region.
Where can I download or print a map of Deaf Smith County?+
Use the "Download PDF" button below the Deaf Smith 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 Deaf Smith 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 Deaf Smith County, Texas?+
The full 5-digit U.S. Census FIPS code for Deaf Smith County is 48117, made up of Texas state code 48 and the 3-digit county code 117. 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.