Geography of Sabine County
Sabine County sits at roughly 31.34° N and 93.85° W in the East Texas region of Texas, spanning 490 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 Hemphill, and the county shares boundaries with 4 neighboring counties.
Population & demographics
With approximately 10,012 residents across 490 square miles, Sabine County has a population density of about 20.4 people per square mile. Like much of West and South Texas, the county is sparsely populated, with wide-open country between settlements.
County seat: Hemphill
Hemphill serves as the seat of government for Sabine 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
Sabine County was established in 1836 and was named for The Sabine River, which forms its eastern border (Sabina is Spanish for "cypress"). It was carved from territory previously part of One of the original 23 counties.
Sabine County, Texas — frequently asked questions
Quick answers about Sabine 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 Sabine County, Texas located?+
Sabine County is located in the East Texas region of Texas at approximately 31.343° N, 93.853° W. It is one of the 254 counties of Texas and carries U.S. Census FIPS code 48403. The interactive map on this page renders the official U.S. Census TIGER boundary for Sabine County over real-world OpenStreetMap, Esri satellite, and topographic basemaps.
How big is Sabine County in square miles?+
Sabine County covers approximately 490 square miles of land in the East Texas region — a compact county by Texas standards. By land area it ranks 239th 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 Sabine County, Texas?+
Sabine County has a population of approximately 10,012 residents. With 490 square miles of land, that works out to a population density of about 20.4 people per square mile, which is rural for a Texas county. That makes Sabine County the 163rd most populous of the 254 counties in Texas.
What is the county seat of Sabine County?+
Hemphill is the county seat of Sabine County, Texas, which was organized in 1836 and named for The Sabine River, which forms its eastern border (Sabina is Spanish for "cypress"). Sabine County was originally carved out of One of the original 23 counties. County government offices, courthouses, and most public records for Sabine County are located in Hemphill.
Which Texas counties border Sabine County?+
Sabine County shares borders with Jasper, San Augustine, Shelby, and Newton 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 East Texas region.
Where can I download or print a map of Sabine County?+
A free, print-ready PDF map of Sabine 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 Sabine 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 Sabine County, Texas?+
The full 5-digit U.S. Census FIPS code for Sabine County is 48403, made up of Texas state code 48 and the 3-digit county code 403. 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.