Geography of Deaf Smith County
Deaf Smith County sits at roughly 34.97° N and 102.61° W in the West Texas region of Texas, spanning 1,497 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 Hereford, and the county shares boundaries with 4 neighboring counties.
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
Hereford serves as the seat of government for Deaf Smith 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
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. Every answer is generated from the official U.S. Census data backing this site.
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?+
A free, print-ready PDF map of Deaf Smith 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 Deaf Smith 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 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.