Geography of Sterling County
Sterling County is classic frontier Texas: 923 square miles of open land with only about 1,349 residents, which makes it one of the most thinly settled counties in the state (234th of 254 by density).
It lies in the West Texas region at about 31.83° N, 101.05° W and is 108th in size among Texas's 254 counties. Sterling County shares boundaries with 6 other Texas counties, and the closest major cities are San Angelo (about 44 miles away in a straight line) and Midland (about 62 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 Sterling 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 1,349 residents across 923 square miles, Sterling County has a population density of about 1.5 people per square mile. Like much of West and South Texas, the county is sparsely populated, with wide-open country between settlements.
County seat: Sterling City
If you need an official record from Sterling County — a deed, a birth certificate, a court filing — Sterling City is where it is kept. Like every Texas county seat, it hosts the courthouse and the main offices of county government. In a county this sparsely settled, Sterling City may be one of only a few incorporated towns.
History & name origin
Sterling County was established in 1891 and was named for W. S. Sterling, an early rancher, buffalo hunter, and Native American fighter. It was carved from territory previously part of Tom Green County.
Sterling County, Texas — frequently asked questions
Quick answers about Sterling 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 Sterling County, Texas located?+
Sterling County is located in the West Texas region of Texas at approximately 31.828° N, 101.050° W. It is one of the 254 counties of Texas and carries U.S. Census FIPS code 48431. The interactive map on this page renders the official U.S. Census TIGER boundary for Sterling County over real-world OpenStreetMap, Esri satellite, and topographic basemaps.
How big is Sterling County in square miles?+
Sterling County covers approximately 923 square miles of land in the West Texas region — a mid-sized Texas county. By land area it ranks 108th 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 Sterling County, Texas?+
Sterling County has a population of approximately 1,349 residents. With 923 square miles of land, that works out to a population density of about 1.5 people per square mile, which is sparsely populated for a Texas county. That makes Sterling County the 241st most populous of the 254 counties in Texas.
What is the county seat of Sterling County?+
Sterling City is the county seat of Sterling County, Texas, which was organized in 1891 and named for W. S. Sterling, an early rancher, buffalo hunter, and Native American fighter. Sterling County was originally carved out of Tom Green County. County government offices, courthouses, and most public records for Sterling County are located in Sterling City.
Which Texas counties border Sterling County?+
Sterling County shares borders with Howard, Reagan, Glasscock, Mitchell, Tom Green, and Coke counties. These 6 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 Sterling County?+
Use the "Download PDF" button below the Sterling 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 Sterling 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 Sterling County, Texas?+
The full 5-digit U.S. Census FIPS code for Sterling County is 48431, made up of Texas state code 48 and the 3-digit county code 431. 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.