Geography of Hockley County
Small towns and open country define Hockley County. Its 21,600 residents are spread across 908 square miles, giving the county a density typical of rural Texas.
It lies in the West Texas region at about 33.61° N, 102.34° W and is 132nd in size among Texas's 254 counties. Hockley County shares boundaries with 4 other Texas counties, and the closest major cities are Lubbock (about 28 miles away in a straight line) and Midland (about 112 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 Hockley 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 21,600 residents across 908 square miles, Hockley County has a population density of about 23.8 people per square mile. Like much of West and South Texas, the county is sparsely populated, with wide-open country between settlements.
County seat: Levelland
Levelland is the county seat of Hockley County. This is where the county courthouse stands and where residents go for property records, vehicle registration, marriage licenses, court cases and voter services handled by the county clerk, district clerk and tax assessor-collector. For many residents, a trip to Levelland combines county business with groceries, school events and church.
History & name origin
Hockley County was established in 1876 and was named for George Washington Hockley (1802–1854), Chief of Staff of the Texas Army during the Texas Revolution and secretary of war of the Republic of Texas. It was carved from territory previously part of Bexar County.
Hockley County, Texas — frequently asked questions
Quick answers about Hockley 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 Hockley County, Texas located?+
Hockley County is located in the West Texas region of Texas at approximately 33.608° N, 102.343° W. It is one of the 254 counties of Texas and carries U.S. Census FIPS code 48219. The interactive map on this page renders the official U.S. Census TIGER boundary for Hockley County over real-world OpenStreetMap, Esri satellite, and topographic basemaps.
How big is Hockley County in square miles?+
Hockley County covers approximately 908 square miles of land in the West Texas region — a mid-sized Texas county. By land area it ranks 132nd 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 Hockley County, Texas?+
Hockley County has a population of approximately 21,600 residents. With 908 square miles of land, that works out to a population density of about 23.8 people per square mile, which is rural for a Texas county. That makes Hockley County the 114th most populous of the 254 counties in Texas.
What is the county seat of Hockley County?+
Levelland is the county seat of Hockley County, Texas, which was organized in 1876 and named for George Washington Hockley (1802–1854), Chief of Staff of the Texas Army during the Texas Revolution and secretary of war of the Republic of Texas. Hockley County was originally carved out of Bexar County. County government offices, courthouses, and most public records for Hockley County are located in Levelland.
Which Texas counties border Hockley County?+
Hockley County shares borders with Cochran, Lamb, Lubbock, and Terry 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 West Texas region.
Where can I download or print a map of Hockley County?+
Use the "Download PDF" button below the Hockley 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 Hockley 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 Hockley County, Texas?+
The full 5-digit U.S. Census FIPS code for Hockley County is 48219, made up of Texas state code 48 and the 3-digit county code 219. 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.