Geography of Terrell County
Terrell County is classic frontier Texas: 2,358 square miles of open land with only about 702 residents, which makes it one of the most thinly settled counties in the state (251st of 254 by density).
It lies in the Big Bend region at about 30.22° N, 102.08° W and is one of the 25 largest counties in Texas (10th of 254). It is a border county, touching Mexico (along the Rio Grande). Terrell County shares boundaries with 4 other Texas counties, and the closest major cities are Midland (about 122 miles away in a straight line) and San Angelo (about 129 miles).
The Big Bend country is the most remote part of Texas: Chihuahuan Desert, mountain ranges and the great curve of the Rio Grande. Ranching, tourism and border trade sustain a very small population spread over enormous distances.
For a broader view of how Terrell 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 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 is the county seat of Terrell County. This is where the county courthouse stands and where residents go for property records, vehicle registration, marriage licenses, court cases and voter services handled by the county clerk, district clerk and tax assessor-collector. In a county this sparsely settled, Sanderson may be one of only a few incorporated towns.
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. Figures are sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau; answers are written and reviewed by the Texas County Map team.
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?+
Use the "Download PDF" button below the Terrell 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 Terrell 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 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.