Geography of Loving County
Loving County sits at roughly 31.85° N and 103.58° W in the West Texas region of Texas, spanning 673 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 Mentone, and the county shares boundaries with 3 neighboring counties.
Population & demographics
With approximately 52 residents across 673 square miles, Loving County has a population density of about 0.1 people per square mile. Like much of West and South Texas, the county is sparsely populated, with wide-open country between settlements.
County seat: Mentone
Mentone serves as the seat of government for Loving 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
Loving County was established in 1887 and was named for Oliver Loving (1812–1867), a cattle rancher and pioneer of the cattle drive who, with Charles Goodnight, developed the Goodnight–Loving Trail. It was carved from territory previously part of Tom Green County (1891)Reeves County (1931).
Loving County, Texas — frequently asked questions
Quick answers about Loving 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 Loving County, Texas located?+
Loving County is located in the West Texas region of Texas at approximately 31.849° N, 103.580° W. It is one of the 254 counties of Texas and carries U.S. Census FIPS code 48301. The interactive map on this page renders the official U.S. Census TIGER boundary for Loving County over real-world OpenStreetMap, Esri satellite, and topographic basemaps.
How big is Loving County in square miles?+
Loving County covers approximately 673 square miles of land in the West Texas region — a compact county by Texas standards. By land area it ranks 221st 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 Loving County, Texas?+
Loving County has a population of approximately 52 residents. With 673 square miles of land, that works out to a population density of about 0.1 people per square mile, which is sparsely populated for a Texas county. That makes Loving County the 254th most populous of the 254 counties in Texas.
What is the county seat of Loving County?+
Mentone is the county seat of Loving County, Texas, which was organized in 1887 and named for Oliver Loving (1812–1867), a cattle rancher and pioneer of the cattle drive who, with Charles Goodnight, developed the Goodnight–Loving Trail. Loving County was originally carved out of Tom Green County (1891)Reeves County (1931). County government offices, courthouses, and most public records for Loving County are located in Mentone.
Which Texas counties border Loving County?+
Loving County shares borders with Ward, Winkler, and Reeves 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 Loving County?+
A free, print-ready PDF map of Loving 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 Loving 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 Loving County, Texas?+
The full 5-digit U.S. Census FIPS code for Loving County is 48301, made up of Texas state code 48 and the 3-digit county code 301. 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.