Geography of Pecos County
Pecos County sits at roughly 30.78° N and 102.72° W in the West Texas region of Texas, spanning 4,764 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 Fort Stockton, and the county shares boundaries with 7 neighboring counties.
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 serves as the seat of government for Pecos 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
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. Every answer is generated from the official U.S. Census data backing this site.
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?+
A free, print-ready PDF map of Pecos 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 Pecos 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 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.