Geography of Jeff Davis County
Few places in Texas are as wide open as Jeff Davis County. Only around 1,711 people live in its 2,265 square miles, and ranchland stretches for miles between settlements.
It lies in the West Texas region at about 30.72° N, 104.14° W and is one of the 25 largest counties in Texas (11th of 254). Jeff Davis County shares boundaries with 6 other Texas counties, and the closest major cities are Midland (about 150 miles away in a straight line) and El Paso (about 156 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 Jeff Davis 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 1,711 residents across 2,265 square miles, Jeff Davis 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: Fort Davis
If you need an official record from Jeff Davis County — a deed, a birth certificate, a court filing — Fort Davis 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, Fort Davis may be one of only a few incorporated towns.
History & name origin
Jeff Davis County was established in 1887 and was named for Jefferson Davis, president of the Confederate States of America (1861–1865). It was carved from territory previously part of Presidio County.
Jeff Davis County, Texas — frequently asked questions
Quick answers about Jeff Davis 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 Jeff Davis County, Texas located?+
Jeff Davis County is located in the West Texas region of Texas at approximately 30.715° N, 104.140° W. It is one of the 254 counties of Texas and carries U.S. Census FIPS code 48243. The interactive map on this page renders the official U.S. Census TIGER boundary for Jeff Davis County over real-world OpenStreetMap, Esri satellite, and topographic basemaps.
How big is Jeff Davis County in square miles?+
Jeff Davis County covers approximately 2,265 square miles of land in the West Texas region — a large county by Texas standards. By land area it ranks 11th 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 Jeff Davis County, Texas?+
Jeff Davis County has a population of approximately 1,711 residents. With 2,265 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 Jeff Davis County the 235th most populous of the 254 counties in Texas.
What is the county seat of Jeff Davis County?+
Fort Davis is the county seat of Jeff Davis County, Texas, which was organized in 1887 and named for Jefferson Davis, president of the Confederate States of America (1861–1865). Jeff Davis County was originally carved out of Presidio County. County government offices, courthouses, and most public records for Jeff Davis County are located in Fort Davis.
Which Texas counties border Jeff Davis County?+
Jeff Davis County shares borders with Hudspeth, Pecos, Presidio, Culberson, Brewster, and Reeves counties. These 6 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 Jeff Davis County?+
Use the "Download PDF" button below the Jeff Davis 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 Jeff Davis 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 Jeff Davis County, Texas?+
The full 5-digit U.S. Census FIPS code for Jeff Davis County is 48243, made up of Texas state code 48 and the 3-digit county code 243. 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.