Geography of El Paso County
With roughly 877,858 residents, El Paso County is among the most heavily populated places in Texas — a metropolitan county where city limits, suburbs and highways now cover much of its 1,013 square miles.
It lies in the West Texas region at about 31.77° N, 106.23° W and is 71st in size among Texas's 254 counties. It is a border county, touching Mexico (along the Rio Grande) and New Mexico. El Paso County shares boundaries with 1 other Texas county, and the closest major cities are El Paso (about 15 miles away in a straight line) and Midland (about 244 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 El Paso 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 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
County government for El Paso County is based in El Paso — one of several Texas county seats that carry the same name as their county. 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. In a county this large, many services are also offered at satellite offices across the county.
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. Figures are sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau; answers are written and reviewed by the Texas County Map team.
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?+
Use the "Download PDF" button below the El Paso 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 El Paso 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 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.