Geography of Terrell County
Terrell County sits at roughly 30.22° N and 102.08° W in the Big Bend region of Texas, spanning 2,358 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 Sanderson, and the county shares boundaries with 4 neighboring counties.
Population & demographics
With approximately 702 residents across 2,358 square miles, Terrell County has a population density of about 0.3 people per square mile. Like much of West and South Texas, the county is sparsely populated, with wide-open country between settlements.
County seat: Sanderson
Sanderson serves as the seat of government for Terrell 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
Terrell County was established in 1905 and was named for Alexander Watkins Terrell, attorney, judge, state legislator, diplomat, and Confederate cavalry officer. It was carved from territory previously part of Pecos County.
Terrell County, Texas — frequently asked questions
Quick answers about Terrell 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 Terrell County, Texas located?+
Terrell County is located in the Big Bend region of Texas at approximately 30.225° N, 102.076° W. It is one of the 254 counties of Texas and carries U.S. Census FIPS code 48443. The interactive map on this page renders the official U.S. Census TIGER boundary for Terrell County over real-world OpenStreetMap, Esri satellite, and topographic basemaps.
How big is Terrell County in square miles?+
Terrell County covers approximately 2,358 square miles of land in the Big Bend region — a large county by Texas standards. By land area it ranks 10th 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 Terrell County, Texas?+
Terrell County has a population of approximately 702 residents. With 2,358 square miles of land, that works out to a population density of about 0.3 people per square mile, which is sparsely populated for a Texas county. That makes Terrell County the 248th most populous of the 254 counties in Texas.
What is the county seat of Terrell County?+
Sanderson is the county seat of Terrell County, Texas, which was organized in 1905 and named for Alexander Watkins Terrell, attorney, judge, state legislator, diplomat, and Confederate cavalry officer. Terrell County was originally carved out of Pecos County. County government offices, courthouses, and most public records for Terrell County are located in Sanderson.
Which Texas counties border Terrell County?+
Terrell County shares borders with Pecos, Crockett, Val Verde, and Brewster 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 Big Bend region.
Where can I download or print a map of Terrell County?+
A free, print-ready PDF map of Terrell 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 Terrell 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 Terrell County, Texas?+
The full 5-digit U.S. Census FIPS code for Terrell County is 48443, made up of Texas state code 48 and the 3-digit county code 443. 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.