Geography of Nolan County
Nolan County sits at roughly 32.30° N and 100.41° W in the Central Texas region of Texas, spanning 912 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 Sweetwater, and the county shares boundaries with 5 neighboring counties.
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 serves as the seat of government for Nolan 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
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. Every answer is generated from the official U.S. Census data backing this site.
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?+
A free, print-ready PDF map of Nolan 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 Nolan 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 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.