Geography of Hardeman County
Hardeman County is classic frontier Texas: 695 square miles of open land with only about 3,292 residents, which makes it one of the most thinly settled counties in the state (200th of 254 by density).
It lies in the North Texas region at about 34.29° N, 99.75° W and is 217th in size among Texas's 254 counties. It is a border county, touching Oklahoma. Hardeman County shares boundaries with 4 other Texas counties, and the closest major cities are Wichita Falls (about 76 miles away in a straight line) and Abilene (about 127 miles).
North Texas runs from the Dallas–Fort Worth Metroplex out to the Red River and the Rolling Plains. It mixes one of America's largest urban regions with wheat fields, cattle country and small towns that grew up along railroads.
For a broader view of how Hardeman 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 3,292 residents across 695 square miles, Hardeman County has a population density of about 4.7 people per square mile. Like much of West and South Texas, the county is sparsely populated, with wide-open country between settlements.
County seat: Quanah
If you need an official record from Hardeman County — a deed, a birth certificate, a court filing — Quanah is where it is kept. Like every Texas county seat, it hosts the courthouse and the main offices of county government. In a county this sparsely settled, Quanah may be one of only a few incorporated towns.
History & name origin
Hardeman County was established in 1858 and was named for Bailey Hardeman, the first secretary of the treasury for the Republic of Texas, and his brother Thomas Jones Hardeman, state representative and judge. It was carved from territory previously part of Fannin County.
Hardeman County, Texas — frequently asked questions
Quick answers about Hardeman 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 Hardeman County, Texas located?+
Hardeman County is located in the North Texas region of Texas at approximately 34.290° N, 99.746° W. It is one of the 254 counties of Texas and carries U.S. Census FIPS code 48197. The interactive map on this page renders the official U.S. Census TIGER boundary for Hardeman County over real-world OpenStreetMap, Esri satellite, and topographic basemaps.
How big is Hardeman County in square miles?+
Hardeman County covers approximately 695 square miles of land in the North Texas region — a compact county by Texas standards. By land area it ranks 217th 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 Hardeman County, Texas?+
Hardeman County has a population of approximately 3,292 residents. With 695 square miles of land, that works out to a population density of about 4.7 people per square mile, which is sparsely populated for a Texas county. That makes Hardeman County the 214th most populous of the 254 counties in Texas.
What is the county seat of Hardeman County?+
Quanah is the county seat of Hardeman County, Texas, which was organized in 1858 and named for Bailey Hardeman, the first secretary of the treasury for the Republic of Texas, and his brother Thomas Jones Hardeman, state representative and judge. Hardeman County was originally carved out of Fannin County. County government offices, courthouses, and most public records for Hardeman County are located in Quanah.
Which Texas counties border Hardeman County?+
Hardeman County shares borders with Cottle, Foard, Wilbarger, and Childress counties. These 4 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 North Texas region.
Where can I download or print a map of Hardeman County?+
Use the "Download PDF" button below the Hardeman 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 Hardeman 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 Hardeman County, Texas?+
The full 5-digit U.S. Census FIPS code for Hardeman County is 48197, made up of Texas state code 48 and the 3-digit county code 197. 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.