Geography of Hudspeth County
Few places in Texas are as wide open as Hudspeth County. Only around 3,433 people live in its 4,571 square miles, and ranchland stretches for miles between settlements.
It lies in the West Texas region at about 31.46° N, 105.39° W and is one of the 25 largest counties in Texas (3rd of 254). It is a border county, touching Mexico (along the Rio Grande) and New Mexico. Hudspeth County shares boundaries with 3 other Texas counties, and the closest major cities are El Paso (about 68 miles away in a straight line) and Midland (about 198 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 Hudspeth 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 3,433 residents across 4,571 square miles, Hudspeth County has a population density of about 0.8 people per square mile. Like much of West and South Texas, the county is sparsely populated, with wide-open country between settlements.
County seat: Sierra Blanca
County government for Hudspeth County is based in Sierra Blanca. 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. In a county this sparsely settled, Sierra Blanca may be one of only a few incorporated towns.
History & name origin
Hudspeth County was established in 1917 and was named for Claude Benton Hudspeth, a U.S. Congressman (1919–1931), rancher, and newspaper publisher. It was carved from territory previously part of El Paso County.
Hudspeth County, Texas — frequently asked questions
Quick answers about Hudspeth 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 Hudspeth County, Texas located?+
Hudspeth County is located in the West Texas region of Texas at approximately 31.456° N, 105.387° W. It is one of the 254 counties of Texas and carries U.S. Census FIPS code 48229. The interactive map on this page renders the official U.S. Census TIGER boundary for Hudspeth County over real-world OpenStreetMap, Esri satellite, and topographic basemaps.
How big is Hudspeth County in square miles?+
Hudspeth County covers approximately 4,571 square miles of land in the West Texas region — one of the largest counties in Texas by land area. By land area it ranks 3rd 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 Hudspeth County, Texas?+
Hudspeth County has a population of approximately 3,433 residents. With 4,571 square miles of land, that works out to a population density of about 0.8 people per square mile, which is sparsely populated for a Texas county. That makes Hudspeth County the 212th most populous of the 254 counties in Texas.
What is the county seat of Hudspeth County?+
Sierra Blanca is the county seat of Hudspeth County, Texas, which was organized in 1917 and named for Claude Benton Hudspeth, a U.S. Congressman (1919–1931), rancher, and newspaper publisher. Hudspeth County was originally carved out of El Paso County. County government offices, courthouses, and most public records for Hudspeth County are located in Sierra Blanca.
Which Texas counties border Hudspeth County?+
Hudspeth County shares borders with Jeff Davis, Culberson, and El Paso counties. These 3 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 Hudspeth County?+
Use the "Download PDF" button below the Hudspeth 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 Hudspeth 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 Hudspeth County, Texas?+
The full 5-digit U.S. Census FIPS code for Hudspeth County is 48229, made up of Texas state code 48 and the 3-digit county code 229. 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.