Geography of Oldham County
Few places in Texas are as wide open as Oldham County. Only around 1,783 people live in its 1,501 square miles, and ranchland stretches for miles between settlements.
It lies in the West Texas region at about 35.41° N, 102.60° W and is one of the 25 largest counties in Texas (21st of 254). It is a border county, touching New Mexico. Oldham County shares boundaries with 4 other Texas counties, and the closest major cities are Amarillo (about 45 miles away in a straight line) and Lubbock (about 133 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 Oldham 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 1,783 residents across 1,501 square miles, Oldham County has a population density of about 1.2 people per square mile. Like much of West and South Texas, the county is sparsely populated, with wide-open country between settlements.
County seat: Vega
If you need an official record from Oldham County — a deed, a birth certificate, a court filing — Vega is where it is kept. Like every Texas county seat, it hosts the courthouse and the main offices of county government. In a county this sparsely settled, Vega may be one of only a few incorporated towns.
History & name origin
Oldham County was established in 1876 and was named for Williamson Simpson Oldham, a Confederate Senator for Texas. It was carved from territory previously part of Bexar County.
Oldham County, Texas — frequently asked questions
Quick answers about Oldham 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 Oldham County, Texas located?+
Oldham County is located in the West Texas region of Texas at approximately 35.405° N, 102.603° W. It is one of the 254 counties of Texas and carries U.S. Census FIPS code 48359. The interactive map on this page renders the official U.S. Census TIGER boundary for Oldham County over real-world OpenStreetMap, Esri satellite, and topographic basemaps.
How big is Oldham County in square miles?+
Oldham County covers approximately 1,501 square miles of land in the West Texas region — a large county by Texas standards. By land area it ranks 21st 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 Oldham County, Texas?+
Oldham County has a population of approximately 1,783 residents. With 1,501 square miles of land, that works out to a population density of about 1.2 people per square mile, which is sparsely populated for a Texas county. That makes Oldham County the 234th most populous of the 254 counties in Texas.
What is the county seat of Oldham County?+
Vega is the county seat of Oldham County, Texas, which was organized in 1876 and named for Williamson Simpson Oldham, a Confederate Senator for Texas. Oldham County was originally carved out of Bexar County. County government offices, courthouses, and most public records for Oldham County are located in Vega.
Which Texas counties border Oldham County?+
Oldham County shares borders with Moore, Hartley, Potter, and Deaf Smith 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 West Texas region.
Where can I download or print a map of Oldham County?+
Use the "Download PDF" button below the Oldham 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 Oldham 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 Oldham County, Texas?+
The full 5-digit U.S. Census FIPS code for Oldham County is 48359, made up of Texas state code 48 and the 3-digit county code 359. 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.