Geography of Knox County
Knox County is classic frontier Texas: 854 square miles of open land with only about 3,192 residents, which makes it one of the most thinly settled counties in the state (209th of 254 by density).
It lies in the North Texas region at about 33.61° N, 99.74° W and is 184th in size among Texas's 254 counties. Knox County shares boundaries with 4 other Texas counties, and the closest major cities are Wichita Falls (about 75 miles away in a straight line) and Abilene (about 80 miles).
North Texas runs from the Dallas–Fort Worth Metroplex out to the Red River and the Rolling Plains. It mixes one of America's largest urban regions with wheat fields, cattle country and small towns that grew up along railroads.
For a broader view of how Knox 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 3,192 residents across 854 square miles, Knox County has a population density of about 3.7 people per square mile. Like much of West and South Texas, the county is sparsely populated, with wide-open country between settlements.
County seat: Benjamin
County government for Knox County is based in Benjamin. 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, Benjamin may be one of only a few incorporated towns.
History & name origin
Knox County was established in 1858 and was named for Henry Knox, the first secretary of war of the United States (1785–1794). It was carved from territory previously part of Bexar County.
Knox County, Texas — frequently asked questions
Quick answers about Knox 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 Knox County, Texas located?+
Knox County is located in the North Texas region of Texas at approximately 33.606° N, 99.741° W. It is one of the 254 counties of Texas and carries U.S. Census FIPS code 48275. The interactive map on this page renders the official U.S. Census TIGER boundary for Knox County over real-world OpenStreetMap, Esri satellite, and topographic basemaps.
How big is Knox County in square miles?+
Knox County covers approximately 854 square miles of land in the North Texas region — a mid-sized Texas county. By land area it ranks 184th 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 Knox County, Texas?+
Knox County has a population of approximately 3,192 residents. With 854 square miles of land, that works out to a population density of about 3.7 people per square mile, which is sparsely populated for a Texas county. That makes Knox County the 218th most populous of the 254 counties in Texas.
What is the county seat of Knox County?+
Benjamin is the county seat of Knox County, Texas, which was organized in 1858 and named for Henry Knox, the first secretary of war of the United States (1785–1794). Knox County was originally carved out of Bexar County. County government offices, courthouses, and most public records for Knox County are located in Benjamin.
Which Texas counties border Knox County?+
Knox County shares borders with King, Haskell, Baylor, and Foard 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 North Texas region.
Where can I download or print a map of Knox County?+
Use the "Download PDF" button below the Knox 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 Knox 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 Knox County, Texas?+
The full 5-digit U.S. Census FIPS code for Knox County is 48275, made up of Texas state code 48 and the 3-digit county code 275. 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.