Geography of Jim Wells County
Jim Wells County sits at roughly 27.73° N and 98.09° W in the South Texas region of Texas, spanning 865 square miles of terrain that includes the landscape characteristic of the area — from open ranchland and farmland to small-town main streets. The county's centroid is near Alice, and the county shares boundaries with 6 neighboring counties.
Population & demographics
With approximately 38,804 residents across 865 square miles, Jim Wells County has a population density of about 44.9 people per square mile. Like much of West and South Texas, the county is sparsely populated, with wide-open country between settlements.
County seat: Alice
Alice serves as the seat of government for Jim Wells County. The county courthouse, commissioners court, district clerk, and primary public records are located here. As with all 254 Texas counties, the county seat is the anchor of civic life and the principal address for elections, permits, and court filings.
History & name origin
Jim Wells County was established in 1911 and was named for James Babbage Wells Jr., judge and Democratic party boss in southern Texas. It was carved from territory previously part of Nueces County.
Jim Wells County, Texas — frequently asked questions
Quick answers about Jim Wells County geography, population, county seat, neighboring counties, and how to use the maps on this page. Every answer is generated from the official U.S. Census data backing this site.
Where is Jim Wells County, Texas located?+
Jim Wells County is located in the South Texas region of Texas at approximately 27.731° N, 98.090° W. It is one of the 254 counties of Texas and carries U.S. Census FIPS code 48249. The interactive map on this page renders the official U.S. Census TIGER boundary for Jim Wells County over real-world OpenStreetMap, Esri satellite, and topographic basemaps.
How big is Jim Wells County in square miles?+
Jim Wells County covers approximately 865 square miles of land in the South Texas region — a mid-sized Texas county. By land area it ranks 180th 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 Jim Wells County, Texas?+
Jim Wells County has a population of approximately 38,804 residents. With 865 square miles of land, that works out to a population density of about 44.9 people per square mile, which is rural for a Texas county. That makes Jim Wells County the 84th most populous of the 254 counties in Texas.
What is the county seat of Jim Wells County?+
Alice is the county seat of Jim Wells County, Texas, which was organized in 1911 and named for James Babbage Wells Jr., judge and Democratic party boss in southern Texas. Jim Wells County was originally carved out of Nueces County. County government offices, courthouses, and most public records for Jim Wells County are located in Alice.
Which Texas counties border Jim Wells County?+
Jim Wells County shares borders with Kleberg, Nueces, San Patricio, Live Oak, Brooks, and Duval 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 South Texas region.
Where can I download or print a map of Jim Wells County?+
A free, print-ready PDF map of Jim Wells County is available from the "Download PDF" button at the top of this page. The printable layout uses authentic U.S. Census TIGER boundary geometry for Jim Wells County, includes a Texas locator inset, and is sized for standard 8.5" × 11" Letter paper. For interactive use, the live Leaflet map on this page supports OpenStreetMap, Esri satellite, Esri topographic, and Carto light basemaps with zoom, scale bar, and fullscreen.
What is the FIPS code for Jim Wells County, Texas?+
The full 5-digit U.S. Census FIPS code for Jim Wells County is 48249, made up of Texas state code 48 and the 3-digit county code 249. 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.