Geography of Panola County
Panola County sits at roughly 32.16° N and 94.31° W in the East Texas region of Texas, spanning 801 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 Carthage, and the county shares boundaries with 3 neighboring counties.
Population & demographics
With approximately 23,018 residents across 801 square miles, Panola County has a population density of about 28.7 people per square mile. Like much of West and South Texas, the county is sparsely populated, with wide-open country between settlements.
County seat: Carthage
Carthage serves as the seat of government for Panola 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
Panola County was established in 1846 and was named for A Native American word for cotton.. It was carved from territory previously part of Harrison County and Shelby County.
Panola County, Texas — frequently asked questions
Quick answers about Panola 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 Panola County, Texas located?+
Panola County is located in the East Texas region of Texas at approximately 32.162° N, 94.306° W. It is one of the 254 counties of Texas and carries U.S. Census FIPS code 48365. The interactive map on this page renders the official U.S. Census TIGER boundary for Panola County over real-world OpenStreetMap, Esri satellite, and topographic basemaps.
How big is Panola County in square miles?+
Panola County covers approximately 801 square miles of land in the East Texas region — a mid-sized Texas county. By land area it ranks 196th 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 Panola County, Texas?+
Panola County has a population of approximately 23,018 residents. With 801 square miles of land, that works out to a population density of about 28.7 people per square mile, which is rural for a Texas county. That makes Panola County the 108th most populous of the 254 counties in Texas.
What is the county seat of Panola County?+
Carthage is the county seat of Panola County, Texas, which was organized in 1846 and named for A Native American word for cotton.. Panola County was originally carved out of Harrison County and Shelby County. County government offices, courthouses, and most public records for Panola County are located in Carthage.
Which Texas counties border Panola County?+
Panola County shares borders with Harrison, Shelby, and Rusk 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 East Texas region.
Where can I download or print a map of Panola County?+
A free, print-ready PDF map of Panola 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 Panola 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 Panola County, Texas?+
The full 5-digit U.S. Census FIPS code for Panola County is 48365, made up of Texas state code 48 and the 3-digit county code 365. 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.