Geography of Pecos County
Pecos County is classic frontier Texas: 4,764 square miles of open land with only about 14,560 residents, which makes it one of the most thinly settled counties in the state (218th of 254 by density).
It lies in the West Texas region at about 30.78° N, 102.72° W and is one of the 25 largest counties in Texas (2nd of 254). Pecos County shares boundaries with 7 other Texas counties, and the closest major cities are Midland (about 92 miles away in a straight line) and San Angelo (about 143 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 Pecos 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 14,560 residents across 4,764 square miles, Pecos County has a population density of about 3.1 people per square mile. Like much of West and South Texas, the county is sparsely populated, with wide-open country between settlements.
County seat: Fort Stockton
Fort Stockton is the county seat of Pecos 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. In a county this sparsely settled, Fort Stockton may be one of only a few incorporated towns.
History & name origin
Pecos County was established in 1871 and was named for The Pecos River, which was named for the Pecos Pueblo, which is of unknown etymology. It was carved from territory previously part of Presidio County.
Pecos County, Texas — frequently asked questions
Quick answers about Pecos 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 Pecos County, Texas located?+
Pecos County is located in the West Texas region of Texas at approximately 30.781° N, 102.724° W. It is one of the 254 counties of Texas and carries U.S. Census FIPS code 48371. The interactive map on this page renders the official U.S. Census TIGER boundary for Pecos County over real-world OpenStreetMap, Esri satellite, and topographic basemaps.
How big is Pecos County in square miles?+
Pecos County covers approximately 4,764 square miles of land in the West Texas region — one of the largest counties in Texas by land area. By land area it ranks 2nd 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 Pecos County, Texas?+
Pecos County has a population of approximately 14,560 residents. With 4,764 square miles of land, that works out to a population density of about 3.1 people per square mile, which is sparsely populated for a Texas county. That makes Pecos County the 140th most populous of the 254 counties in Texas.
What is the county seat of Pecos County?+
Fort Stockton is the county seat of Pecos County, Texas, which was organized in 1871 and named for The Pecos River, which was named for the Pecos Pueblo, which is of unknown etymology. Pecos County was originally carved out of Presidio County. County government offices, courthouses, and most public records for Pecos County are located in Fort Stockton.
Which Texas counties border Pecos County?+
Pecos County shares borders with Jeff Davis, Terrell, Ward, Crane, Crockett, Brewster, and Reeves counties. These 7 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 Pecos County?+
Use the "Download PDF" button below the Pecos 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 Pecos 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 Pecos County, Texas?+
The full 5-digit U.S. Census FIPS code for Pecos County is 48371, made up of Texas state code 48 and the 3-digit county code 371. 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.