Geography of Sherman County
Sherman County is classic frontier Texas: 923 square miles of open land with only about 2,781 residents, which makes it one of the most thinly settled counties in the state (220th of 254 by density).
It lies in the West Texas region at about 36.28° N, 101.89° W and is 107th in size among Texas's 254 counties. It is a border county, touching Oklahoma. Sherman County shares boundaries with 3 other Texas counties, and the closest major cities are Amarillo (about 73 miles away in a straight line) and Lubbock (about 186 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 Sherman 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 2,781 residents across 923 square miles, Sherman County has a population density of about 3.0 people per square mile. Like much of West and South Texas, the county is sparsely populated, with wide-open country between settlements.
County seat: Stratford
County government for Sherman County is based in Stratford. 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, Stratford may be one of only a few incorporated towns.
History & name origin
Sherman County was established in 1876 and was named for Sidney Sherman (1805–1873), a soldier in the Texas Revolution. It was carved from territory previously part of Bexar County.
Sherman County, Texas — frequently asked questions
Quick answers about Sherman 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 Sherman County, Texas located?+
Sherman County is located in the West Texas region of Texas at approximately 36.278° N, 101.894° W. It is one of the 254 counties of Texas and carries U.S. Census FIPS code 48421. The interactive map on this page renders the official U.S. Census TIGER boundary for Sherman County over real-world OpenStreetMap, Esri satellite, and topographic basemaps.
How big is Sherman County in square miles?+
Sherman County covers approximately 923 square miles of land in the West Texas region — a mid-sized Texas county. By land area it ranks 107th 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 Sherman County, Texas?+
Sherman County has a population of approximately 2,781 residents. With 923 square miles of land, that works out to a population density of about 3.0 people per square mile, which is sparsely populated for a Texas county. That makes Sherman County the 224th most populous of the 254 counties in Texas.
What is the county seat of Sherman County?+
Stratford is the county seat of Sherman County, Texas, which was organized in 1876 and named for Sidney Sherman (1805–1873), a soldier in the Texas Revolution. Sherman County was originally carved out of Bexar County. County government offices, courthouses, and most public records for Sherman County are located in Stratford.
Which Texas counties border Sherman County?+
Sherman County shares borders with Moore, Hansford, and Dallam counties. These 3 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 Sherman County?+
Use the "Download PDF" button below the Sherman 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 Sherman 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 Sherman County, Texas?+
The full 5-digit U.S. Census FIPS code for Sherman County is 48421, made up of Texas state code 48 and the 3-digit county code 421. 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.