Geography of Potter County
Potter County is built around Amarillo and a handful of smaller towns, with about 114,453 residents across 909 square miles of mixed town and countryside.
It lies in the West Texas region at about 35.40° N, 101.89° W and is 131st in size among Texas's 254 counties. Potter County shares boundaries with 4 other Texas counties, and the closest major cities are Amarillo (about 13 miles away in a straight line) and Lubbock (about 126 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 Potter 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 114,453 residents across 909 square miles, Potter County has a population density of about 125.9 people per square mile. Density here reflects a mix of small cities, suburbs, and rural land.
County seat: Amarillo
Amarillo is the county seat of Potter 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. Amarillo also serves as the main shopping, school and healthcare center for much of the county.
History & name origin
Potter County was established in 1876 and was named for Robert Potter (1800–1842), secretary of the navy for the Republic of Texas, and signer of the Texas Declaration of Independence. It was carved from territory previously part of Bexar County.
Potter County, Texas — frequently asked questions
Quick answers about Potter 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 Potter County, Texas located?+
Potter County is located in the West Texas region of Texas at approximately 35.401° N, 101.894° W. It is one of the 254 counties of Texas and carries U.S. Census FIPS code 48375. The interactive map on this page renders the official U.S. Census TIGER boundary for Potter County over real-world OpenStreetMap, Esri satellite, and topographic basemaps.
How big is Potter County in square miles?+
Potter County covers approximately 909 square miles of land in the West Texas region — a mid-sized Texas county. By land area it ranks 131st 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 Potter County, Texas?+
Potter County has a population of approximately 114,453 residents. With 909 square miles of land, that works out to a population density of about 125.9 people per square mile, which is moderately populated for a Texas county. That makes Potter County the 43rd most populous of the 254 counties in Texas.
What is the county seat of Potter County?+
Amarillo is the county seat of Potter County, Texas, which was organized in 1876 and named for Robert Potter (1800–1842), secretary of the navy for the Republic of Texas, and signer of the Texas Declaration of Independence. Potter County was originally carved out of Bexar County. County government offices, courthouses, and most public records for Potter County are located in Amarillo.
Which Texas counties border Potter County?+
Potter County shares borders with Moore, Oldham, Randall, and Carson 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 Potter County?+
Use the "Download PDF" button below the Potter 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 Potter 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 Potter County, Texas?+
The full 5-digit U.S. Census FIPS code for Potter County is 48375, made up of Texas state code 48 and the 3-digit county code 375. 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.