Geography of Swisher County
Small towns and open country define Swisher County. Its 6,703 residents are spread across 900 square miles, giving the county a density typical of rural Texas.
It lies in the West Texas region at about 34.53° N, 101.73° W and is 154th in size among Texas's 254 counties. Swisher County shares boundaries with 6 other Texas counties, and the closest major cities are Amarillo (about 48 miles away in a straight line) and Lubbock (about 66 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 Swisher 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 6,703 residents across 900 square miles, Swisher County has a population density of about 7.4 people per square mile. Like much of West and South Texas, the county is sparsely populated, with wide-open country between settlements.
County seat: Tulia
If you need an official record from Swisher County — a deed, a birth certificate, a court filing — Tulia is where it is kept. Like every Texas county seat, it hosts the courthouse and the main offices of county government. For many residents, a trip to Tulia combines county business with groceries, school events and church.
History & name origin
Swisher County was established in 1876 and was named for James Gibson Swisher, a soldier of the Texas Revolution. It was carved from territory previously part of Bexar County.
Swisher County, Texas — frequently asked questions
Quick answers about Swisher 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 Swisher County, Texas located?+
Swisher County is located in the West Texas region of Texas at approximately 34.530° N, 101.735° W. It is one of the 254 counties of Texas and carries U.S. Census FIPS code 48437. The interactive map on this page renders the official U.S. Census TIGER boundary for Swisher County over real-world OpenStreetMap, Esri satellite, and topographic basemaps.
How big is Swisher County in square miles?+
Swisher County covers approximately 900 square miles of land in the West Texas region — a mid-sized Texas county. By land area it ranks 154th 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 Swisher County, Texas?+
Swisher County has a population of approximately 6,703 residents. With 900 square miles of land, that works out to a population density of about 7.4 people per square mile, which is sparsely populated for a Texas county. That makes Swisher County the 186th most populous of the 254 counties in Texas.
What is the county seat of Swisher County?+
Tulia is the county seat of Swisher County, Texas, which was organized in 1876 and named for James Gibson Swisher, a soldier of the Texas Revolution. Swisher County was originally carved out of Bexar County. County government offices, courthouses, and most public records for Swisher County are located in Tulia.
Which Texas counties border Swisher County?+
Swisher County shares borders with Hale, Armstrong, Floyd, Randall, Briscoe, and Castro 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 Swisher County?+
Use the "Download PDF" button below the Swisher 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 Swisher 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 Swisher County, Texas?+
The full 5-digit U.S. Census FIPS code for Swisher County is 48437, made up of Texas state code 48 and the 3-digit county code 437. 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.