Geography of Hale County
Hale County sits at roughly 34.07° N and 101.83° W in the West Texas region of Texas, spanning 1,005 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 Plainview, and the county shares boundaries with 5 neighboring counties.
Population & demographics
With approximately 31,819 residents across 1,005 square miles, Hale County has a population density of about 31.7 people per square mile. Like much of West and South Texas, the county is sparsely populated, with wide-open country between settlements.
County seat: Plainview
Plainview serves as the seat of government for Hale 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
Hale County was established in 1876 and was named for John C. Hale, a lieutenant killed in action at the Battle of San Jacinto. It was carved from territory previously part of Bexar County.
Hale County, Texas — frequently asked questions
Quick answers about Hale 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 Hale County, Texas located?+
Hale County is located in the West Texas region of Texas at approximately 34.071° N, 101.827° W. It is one of the 254 counties of Texas and carries U.S. Census FIPS code 48189. The interactive map on this page renders the official U.S. Census TIGER boundary for Hale County over real-world OpenStreetMap, Esri satellite, and topographic basemaps.
How big is Hale County in square miles?+
Hale County covers approximately 1,005 square miles of land in the West Texas region — a mid-sized Texas county. By land area it ranks 72nd 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 Hale County, Texas?+
Hale County has a population of approximately 31,819 residents. With 1,005 square miles of land, that works out to a population density of about 31.7 people per square mile, which is rural for a Texas county. That makes Hale County the 92nd most populous of the 254 counties in Texas.
What is the county seat of Hale County?+
Plainview is the county seat of Hale County, Texas, which was organized in 1876 and named for John C. Hale, a lieutenant killed in action at the Battle of San Jacinto. Hale County was originally carved out of Bexar County. County government offices, courthouses, and most public records for Hale County are located in Plainview.
Which Texas counties border Hale County?+
Hale County shares borders with Floyd, Lamb, Lubbock, Swisher, and Castro 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 Hale County?+
A free, print-ready PDF map of Hale 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 Hale 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 Hale County, Texas?+
The full 5-digit U.S. Census FIPS code for Hale County is 48189, made up of Texas state code 48 and the 3-digit county code 189. 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.