Geography of Ector County
Covering 901 square miles, Ector County combines a regional trade center at Odessa with farm and ranch land in every direction. About 173,801 people live here.
It lies in the West Texas region at about 31.87° N, 102.54° W and is 146th in size among Texas's 254 counties. Ector County shares boundaries with 6 other Texas counties, and the closest major cities are Midland (about 29 miles away in a straight line) and Lubbock (about 125 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 Ector 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 173,801 residents across 901 square miles, Ector County has a population density of about 192.9 people per square mile. Density here reflects a mix of small cities, suburbs, and rural land.
County seat: Odessa
County government for Ector County is based in Odessa. 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. Odessa also serves as the main shopping, school and healthcare center for much of the county.
History & name origin
Ector County was established in 1887 and was named for Matthew Ector (1822–1879), a Confederate general during the Civil War. It was carved from territory previously part of Tom Green County.
Ector County, Texas — frequently asked questions
Quick answers about Ector 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 Ector County, Texas located?+
Ector County is located in the West Texas region of Texas at approximately 31.869° N, 102.543° W. It is one of the 254 counties of Texas and carries U.S. Census FIPS code 48135. The interactive map on this page renders the official U.S. Census TIGER boundary for Ector County over real-world OpenStreetMap, Esri satellite, and topographic basemaps.
How big is Ector County in square miles?+
Ector County covers approximately 901 square miles of land in the West Texas region — a mid-sized Texas county. By land area it ranks 146th 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 Ector County, Texas?+
Ector County has a population of approximately 173,801 residents. With 901 square miles of land, that works out to a population density of about 192.9 people per square mile, which is moderately populated for a Texas county. That makes Ector County the 32nd most populous of the 254 counties in Texas.
What is the county seat of Ector County?+
Odessa is the county seat of Ector County, Texas, which was organized in 1887 and named for Matthew Ector (1822–1879), a Confederate general during the Civil War. Ector County was originally carved out of Tom Green County. County government offices, courthouses, and most public records for Ector County are located in Odessa.
Which Texas counties border Ector County?+
Ector County shares borders with Ward, Winkler, Andrews, Crane, Midland, and Upton counties. These 6 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 Ector County?+
Use the "Download PDF" button below the Ector 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 Ector 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 Ector County, Texas?+
The full 5-digit U.S. Census FIPS code for Ector County is 48135, made up of Texas state code 48 and the 3-digit county code 135. 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.