Geography of Howard County
Small towns and open country define Howard County. Its 30,504 residents are spread across 903 square miles, giving the county a density typical of rural Texas.
It lies in the West Texas region at about 32.31° N, 101.44° W and is 140th in size among Texas's 254 counties. Howard County shares boundaries with 5 other Texas counties, and the closest major cities are Midland (about 43 miles away in a straight line) and San Angelo (about 83 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 Howard 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 30,504 residents across 903 square miles, Howard County has a population density of about 33.8 people per square mile. Like much of West and South Texas, the county is sparsely populated, with wide-open country between settlements.
County seat: Big Spring
County government for Howard County is based in Big Spring. 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. For many residents, a trip to Big Spring combines county business with groceries, school events and church.
History & name origin
Howard County was established in 1876 and was named for Volney Eskine Howard, U.S. Representative from Texas (1849–1853). It was carved from territory previously part of Bexar County.
Howard County, Texas — frequently asked questions
Quick answers about Howard 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 Howard County, Texas located?+
Howard County is located in the West Texas region of Texas at approximately 32.306° N, 101.436° W. It is one of the 254 counties of Texas and carries U.S. Census FIPS code 48227. The interactive map on this page renders the official U.S. Census TIGER boundary for Howard County over real-world OpenStreetMap, Esri satellite, and topographic basemaps.
How big is Howard County in square miles?+
Howard County covers approximately 903 square miles of land in the West Texas region — a mid-sized Texas county. By land area it ranks 140th 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 Howard County, Texas?+
Howard County has a population of approximately 30,504 residents. With 903 square miles of land, that works out to a population density of about 33.8 people per square mile, which is rural for a Texas county. That makes Howard County the 95th most populous of the 254 counties in Texas.
What is the county seat of Howard County?+
Big Spring is the county seat of Howard County, Texas, which was organized in 1876 and named for Volney Eskine Howard, U.S. Representative from Texas (1849–1853). Howard County was originally carved out of Bexar County. County government offices, courthouses, and most public records for Howard County are located in Big Spring.
Which Texas counties border Howard County?+
Howard County shares borders with Glasscock, Martin, Sterling, Mitchell, and Borden 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 Howard County?+
Use the "Download PDF" button below the Howard 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 Howard 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 Howard County, Texas?+
The full 5-digit U.S. Census FIPS code for Howard County is 48227, made up of Texas state code 48 and the 3-digit county code 227. 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.