Geography of Loving County
Few places in Texas are as wide open as Loving County. Only around 52 people live in its 673 square miles, and ranchland stretches for miles between settlements.
It lies in the West Texas region at about 31.85° N, 103.58° W and is 221st in size among Texas's 254 counties. It is a border county, touching New Mexico. Loving County shares boundaries with 3 other Texas counties, and the closest major cities are Midland (about 89 miles away in a straight line) and Lubbock (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 Loving 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 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
County government for Loving County is based in Mentone. 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, Mentone may be one of only a few incorporated towns.
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. Figures are sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau; answers are written and reviewed by the Texas County Map team.
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?+
Use the "Download PDF" button below the Loving 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 Loving 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 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.