Geography of Presidio County
Few places in Texas are as wide open as Presidio County. Only around 5,433 people live in its 3,856 square miles, and ranchland stretches for miles between settlements.
It lies in the Big Bend region at about 30.00° N, 104.24° W and is one of the 25 largest counties in Texas (4th of 254). It is a border county, touching Mexico (along the Rio Grande). Presidio County shares boundaries with 2 other Texas counties, and the closest major cities are El Paso (about 180 miles away in a straight line) and Midland (about 188 miles).
The Big Bend country is the most remote part of Texas: Chihuahuan Desert, mountain ranges and the great curve of the Rio Grande. Ranching, tourism and border trade sustain a very small population spread over enormous distances.
For a broader view of how Presidio 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 5,433 residents across 3,856 square miles, Presidio County has a population density of about 1.4 people per square mile. Like much of West and South Texas, the county is sparsely populated, with wide-open country between settlements.
County seat: Marfa
County government for Presidio County is based in Marfa. The commissioners court, made up of a county judge and four precinct commissioners, meets here and sets the county budget, roads policy and tax rate. In a county this sparsely settled, Marfa may be one of only a few incorporated towns.
History & name origin
Presidio County was established in 1850 and was named for Presidio del Norte, an eighteenth-century fort and settlement on the south side of the Rio Grande. It was carved from territory previously part of Santa Fe County.
Presidio County, Texas — frequently asked questions
Quick answers about Presidio 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 Presidio County, Texas located?+
Presidio County is located in the Big Bend region of Texas at approximately 30.000° N, 104.241° W. It is one of the 254 counties of Texas and carries U.S. Census FIPS code 48377. The interactive map on this page renders the official U.S. Census TIGER boundary for Presidio County over real-world OpenStreetMap, Esri satellite, and topographic basemaps.
How big is Presidio County in square miles?+
Presidio County covers approximately 3,856 square miles of land in the Big Bend region — a large county by Texas standards. By land area it ranks 4th 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 Presidio County, Texas?+
Presidio County has a population of approximately 5,433 residents. With 3,856 square miles of land, that works out to a population density of about 1.4 people per square mile, which is sparsely populated for a Texas county. That makes Presidio County the 196th most populous of the 254 counties in Texas.
What is the county seat of Presidio County?+
Marfa is the county seat of Presidio County, Texas, which was organized in 1850 and named for Presidio del Norte, an eighteenth-century fort and settlement on the south side of the Rio Grande. Presidio County was originally carved out of Santa Fe County. County government offices, courthouses, and most public records for Presidio County are located in Marfa.
Which Texas counties border Presidio County?+
Presidio County shares borders with Jeff Davis and Brewster counties. These 2 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 Big Bend region.
Where can I download or print a map of Presidio County?+
Use the "Download PDF" button below the Presidio 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 Presidio 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 Presidio County, Texas?+
The full 5-digit U.S. Census FIPS code for Presidio County is 48377, made up of Texas state code 48 and the 3-digit county code 377. 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.