Geography of Nolan County
Nolan County is a rural county of 912 square miles and about 14,117 residents, where farms and ranches fill most of the space between Sweetwater and its smaller communities.
It lies in the Central Texas region at about 32.30° N, 100.41° W and is 124th in size among Texas's 254 counties. Nolan County shares boundaries with 5 other Texas counties, and the closest major cities are Abilene (about 41 miles away in a straight line) and San Angelo (about 58 miles).
Central Texas stretches across the Hill Country, the Blackland Prairie and the Cross Timbers. It includes some of the fastest-growing suburbs in the nation along the I-35 corridor, alongside quiet ranching counties with limestone creeks and live-oak savanna.
For a broader view of how Nolan 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 14,117 residents across 912 square miles, Nolan County has a population density of about 15.5 people per square mile. Like much of West and South Texas, the county is sparsely populated, with wide-open country between settlements.
County seat: Sweetwater
Sweetwater is the county seat of Nolan County. This is where the county courthouse stands and where residents go for property records, vehicle registration, marriage licenses, court cases and voter services handled by the county clerk, district clerk and tax assessor-collector. For many residents, a trip to Sweetwater combines county business with groceries, school events and church.
History & name origin
Nolan County was established in 1876 and was named for Philip Nolan (1771–1801), a mustanger who was killed by Spanish troops while on a mission into Texas. It was carved from territory previously part of Bexar County.
Nolan County, Texas — frequently asked questions
Quick answers about Nolan 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 Nolan County, Texas located?+
Nolan County is located in the Central Texas region of Texas at approximately 32.303° N, 100.406° W. It is one of the 254 counties of Texas and carries U.S. Census FIPS code 48353. The interactive map on this page renders the official U.S. Census TIGER boundary for Nolan County over real-world OpenStreetMap, Esri satellite, and topographic basemaps.
How big is Nolan County in square miles?+
Nolan County covers approximately 912 square miles of land in the Central Texas region — a mid-sized Texas county. By land area it ranks 124th 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 Nolan County, Texas?+
Nolan County has a population of approximately 14,117 residents. With 912 square miles of land, that works out to a population density of about 15.5 people per square mile, which is rural for a Texas county. That makes Nolan County the 145th most populous of the 254 counties in Texas.
What is the county seat of Nolan County?+
Sweetwater is the county seat of Nolan County, Texas, which was organized in 1876 and named for Philip Nolan (1771–1801), a mustanger who was killed by Spanish troops while on a mission into Texas. Nolan County was originally carved out of Bexar County. County government offices, courthouses, and most public records for Nolan County are located in Sweetwater.
Which Texas counties border Nolan County?+
Nolan County shares borders with Mitchell, Runnels, Taylor, Coke, and Fisher counties. These 5 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 Central Texas region.
Where can I download or print a map of Nolan County?+
Use the "Download PDF" button below the Nolan 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 Nolan 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 Nolan County, Texas?+
The full 5-digit U.S. Census FIPS code for Nolan County is 48353, made up of Texas state code 48 and the 3-digit county code 353. 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.