Geography of Parmer County
Small towns and open country define Parmer County. Its 9,678 residents are spread across 882 square miles, giving the county a density typical of rural Texas.
It lies in the West Texas region at about 34.53° N, 102.78° W and is 172nd in size among Texas's 254 counties. It is a border county, touching New Mexico. Parmer County shares boundaries with 4 other Texas counties, and the closest major cities are Amarillo (about 72 miles away in a straight line) and Lubbock (about 85 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 Parmer 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 9,678 residents across 882 square miles, Parmer County has a population density of about 11.0 people per square mile. Like much of West and South Texas, the county is sparsely populated, with wide-open country between settlements.
County seat: Farwell
If you need an official record from Parmer County — a deed, a birth certificate, a court filing — Farwell is where it is kept. Like every Texas county seat, it hosts the courthouse and the main offices of county government. For many residents, a trip to Farwell combines county business with groceries, school events and church.
History & name origin
Parmer County was established in 1876 and was named for Martin Parmer (1778–1850), a Republic of Texas legislator, judge, and signer of the Texas Declaration of Independence. It was carved from territory previously part of Bexar County.
Parmer County, Texas — frequently asked questions
Quick answers about Parmer 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 Parmer County, Texas located?+
Parmer County is located in the West Texas region of Texas at approximately 34.530° N, 102.784° W. It is one of the 254 counties of Texas and carries U.S. Census FIPS code 48369. The interactive map on this page renders the official U.S. Census TIGER boundary for Parmer County over real-world OpenStreetMap, Esri satellite, and topographic basemaps.
How big is Parmer County in square miles?+
Parmer County covers approximately 882 square miles of land in the West Texas region — a mid-sized Texas county. By land area it ranks 172nd 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 Parmer County, Texas?+
Parmer County has a population of approximately 9,678 residents. With 882 square miles of land, that works out to a population density of about 11.0 people per square mile, which is rural for a Texas county. That makes Parmer County the 166th most populous of the 254 counties in Texas.
What is the county seat of Parmer County?+
Farwell is the county seat of Parmer County, Texas, which was organized in 1876 and named for Martin Parmer (1778–1850), a Republic of Texas legislator, judge, and signer of the Texas Declaration of Independence. Parmer County was originally carved out of Bexar County. County government offices, courthouses, and most public records for Parmer County are located in Farwell.
Which Texas counties border Parmer County?+
Parmer County shares borders with Lamb, Bailey, Deaf Smith, and Castro 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 Parmer County?+
Use the "Download PDF" button below the Parmer 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 Parmer 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 Parmer County, Texas?+
The full 5-digit U.S. Census FIPS code for Parmer County is 48369, made up of Texas state code 48 and the 3-digit county code 369. 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.