Geography of Ector County
Ector County sits at roughly 31.87° N and 102.54° W in the West Texas region of Texas, spanning 901 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 Odessa, and the county shares boundaries with 6 neighboring counties.
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
Odessa serves as the seat of government for Ector 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
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. Every answer is generated from the official U.S. Census data backing this site.
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?+
A free, print-ready PDF map of Ector 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 Ector 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 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.