Geography of Sterling County
Sterling County sits at roughly 31.83° N and 101.05° W in the West Texas region of Texas, spanning 923 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 Sterling City, and the county shares boundaries with 6 neighboring counties.
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
Sterling City serves as the seat of government for Sterling 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
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. Every answer is generated from the official U.S. Census data backing this site.
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?+
A free, print-ready PDF map of Sterling 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 Sterling 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 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.