Geography of El Paso County
El Paso County sits at roughly 31.77° N and 106.23° W in the West Texas region of Texas, spanning 1,013 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 El Paso, and the county shares boundaries with 1 neighboring county.
Population & demographics
With approximately 877,858 residents across 1,013 square miles, El Paso County has a population density of about 866.6 people per square mile. It ranks among the more densely populated counties in Texas — a clear sign of metropolitan urbanization.
County seat: El Paso
El Paso serves as the seat of government for El Paso 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
El Paso County was established in 1848 and was named for Neighboring Ciudad Juárez, Mexico, formerly called El Paso del Norte as it served as the pass north from central Mexico to the settlements of New Mexico. It was carved from territory previously part of Santa Fe County.
El Paso County, Texas — frequently asked questions
Quick answers about El Paso 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 El Paso County, Texas located?+
El Paso County is located in the West Texas region of Texas at approximately 31.769° N, 106.235° W. It is one of the 254 counties of Texas and carries U.S. Census FIPS code 48141. The interactive map on this page renders the official U.S. Census TIGER boundary for El Paso County over real-world OpenStreetMap, Esri satellite, and topographic basemaps.
How big is El Paso County in square miles?+
El Paso County covers approximately 1,013 square miles of land in the West Texas region — a mid-sized Texas county. By land area it ranks 71st 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 El Paso County, Texas?+
El Paso County has a population of approximately 877,858 residents. With 1,013 square miles of land, that works out to a population density of about 866.6 people per square mile, which is densely populated for a Texas county. That makes El Paso County the 10th most populous of the 254 counties in Texas.
What is the county seat of El Paso County?+
El Paso is the county seat of El Paso County, Texas, which was organized in 1848 and named for Neighboring Ciudad Juárez, Mexico, formerly called El Paso del Norte as it served as the pass north from central Mexico to the settlements of New Mexico. El Paso County was originally carved out of Santa Fe County. County government offices, courthouses, and most public records for El Paso County are located in El Paso.
Which Texas counties border El Paso County?+
El Paso County shares borders with Hudspeth County. These 1 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 El Paso County?+
A free, print-ready PDF map of El Paso 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 El Paso 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 El Paso County, Texas?+
The full 5-digit U.S. Census FIPS code for El Paso County is 48141, made up of Texas state code 48 and the 3-digit county code 141. 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.