Geography of Irion County
Few places in Texas are as wide open as Irion County. Only around 1,463 people live in its 1,052 square miles, and ranchland stretches for miles between settlements.
It lies in the Central Texas region at about 31.30° N, 100.98° W and is 64th in size among Texas's 254 counties. Irion County shares boundaries with 4 other Texas counties, and the closest major cities are San Angelo (about 34 miles away in a straight line) and Midland (about 80 miles).
Central Texas stretches across the Hill Country, the Blackland Prairie and the Cross Timbers. It includes some of the fastest-growing suburbs in the nation along the I-35 corridor, alongside quiet ranching counties with limestone creeks and live-oak savanna.
For a broader view of how Irion 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 1,463 residents across 1,052 square miles, Irion County has a population density of about 1.4 people per square mile. Like much of West and South Texas, the county is sparsely populated, with wide-open country between settlements.
County seat: Mertzon
If you need an official record from Irion County — a deed, a birth certificate, a court filing — Mertzon 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, Mertzon may be one of only a few incorporated towns.
History & name origin
Irion County was established in 1889 and was named for Robert Anderson Irion (1804–1861), a secretary of state in the Republic of Texas. It was carved from territory previously part of Tom Green County.
Irion County, Texas — frequently asked questions
Quick answers about Irion 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 Irion County, Texas located?+
Irion County is located in the Central Texas region of Texas at approximately 31.304° N, 100.983° W. It is one of the 254 counties of Texas and carries U.S. Census FIPS code 48235. The interactive map on this page renders the official U.S. Census TIGER boundary for Irion County over real-world OpenStreetMap, Esri satellite, and topographic basemaps.
How big is Irion County in square miles?+
Irion County covers approximately 1,052 square miles of land in the Central Texas region — a mid-sized Texas county. By land area it ranks 64th 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 Irion County, Texas?+
Irion County has a population of approximately 1,463 residents. With 1,052 square miles of land, that works out to a population density of about 1.4 people per square mile, which is sparsely populated for a Texas county. That makes Irion County the 239th most populous of the 254 counties in Texas.
What is the county seat of Irion County?+
Mertzon is the county seat of Irion County, Texas, which was organized in 1889 and named for Robert Anderson Irion (1804–1861), a secretary of state in the Republic of Texas. Irion County was originally carved out of Tom Green County. County government offices, courthouses, and most public records for Irion County are located in Mertzon.
Which Texas counties border Irion County?+
Irion County shares borders with Reagan, Crockett, Schleicher, and Tom Green 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 Central Texas region.
Where can I download or print a map of Irion County?+
Use the "Download PDF" button below the Irion 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 Irion 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 Irion County, Texas?+
The full 5-digit U.S. Census FIPS code for Irion County is 48235, made up of Texas state code 48 and the 3-digit county code 235. 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.