Geography of Gaines County
Gaines County sits at roughly 32.74° N and 102.64° W in the West Texas region of Texas, spanning 1,502 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 Seminole, and the county shares boundaries with 5 neighboring counties.
Population & demographics
With approximately 23,956 residents across 1,502 square miles, Gaines County has a population density of about 15.9 people per square mile. Like much of West and South Texas, the county is sparsely populated, with wide-open country between settlements.
County seat: Seminole
Seminole serves as the seat of government for Gaines 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
Gaines County was established in 1876 and was named for James Gaines, merchant and signer of the Texas Declaration of Independence. It was carved from territory previously part of Bexar County.
Gaines County, Texas — frequently asked questions
Quick answers about Gaines 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 Gaines County, Texas located?+
Gaines County is located in the West Texas region of Texas at approximately 32.741° N, 102.635° W. It is one of the 254 counties of Texas and carries U.S. Census FIPS code 48165. The interactive map on this page renders the official U.S. Census TIGER boundary for Gaines County over real-world OpenStreetMap, Esri satellite, and topographic basemaps.
How big is Gaines County in square miles?+
Gaines County covers approximately 1,502 square miles of land in the West Texas region — a large county by Texas standards. By land area it ranks 19th 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 Gaines County, Texas?+
Gaines County has a population of approximately 23,956 residents. With 1,502 square miles of land, that works out to a population density of about 15.9 people per square mile, which is rural for a Texas county. That makes Gaines County the 105th most populous of the 254 counties in Texas.
What is the county seat of Gaines County?+
Seminole is the county seat of Gaines County, Texas, which was organized in 1876 and named for James Gaines, merchant and signer of the Texas Declaration of Independence. Gaines County was originally carved out of Bexar County. County government offices, courthouses, and most public records for Gaines County are located in Seminole.
Which Texas counties border Gaines County?+
Gaines County shares borders with Andrews, Martin, Terry, Yoakum, and Dawson counties. These 5 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 Gaines County?+
A free, print-ready PDF map of Gaines 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 Gaines 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 Gaines County, Texas?+
The full 5-digit U.S. Census FIPS code for Gaines County is 48165, made up of Texas state code 48 and the 3-digit county code 165. 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.