Geography of Upton County
Upton County sits at roughly 31.37° N and 102.04° W in the West Texas region of Texas, spanning 1,242 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 Rankin, and the county shares boundaries with 5 neighboring counties.
Population & demographics
With approximately 3,131 residents across 1,242 square miles, Upton County has a population density of about 2.5 people per square mile. Like much of West and South Texas, the county is sparsely populated, with wide-open country between settlements.
County seat: Rankin
Rankin serves as the seat of government for Upton 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
Upton County was established in 1887 and was named for John C. & William F. Upton, brothers and lieutenant colonels in the Confederate army during the Civil War. It was carved from territory previously part of Tom Green County.
Upton County, Texas — frequently asked questions
Quick answers about Upton 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 Upton County, Texas located?+
Upton County is located in the West Texas region of Texas at approximately 31.369° N, 102.043° W. It is one of the 254 counties of Texas and carries U.S. Census FIPS code 48461. The interactive map on this page renders the official U.S. Census TIGER boundary for Upton County over real-world OpenStreetMap, Esri satellite, and topographic basemaps.
How big is Upton County in square miles?+
Upton County covers approximately 1,242 square miles of land in the West Texas region — a mid-sized Texas county. By land area it ranks 37th 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 Upton County, Texas?+
Upton County has a population of approximately 3,131 residents. With 1,242 square miles of land, that works out to a population density of about 2.5 people per square mile, which is sparsely populated for a Texas county. That makes Upton County the 220th most populous of the 254 counties in Texas.
What is the county seat of Upton County?+
Rankin is the county seat of Upton County, Texas, which was organized in 1887 and named for John C. & William F. Upton, brothers and lieutenant colonels in the Confederate army during the Civil War. Upton County was originally carved out of Tom Green County. County government offices, courthouses, and most public records for Upton County are located in Rankin.
Which Texas counties border Upton County?+
Upton County shares borders with Reagan, Crane, Crockett, Ector, and Midland counties. These 5 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 Upton County?+
A free, print-ready PDF map of Upton 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 Upton 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 Upton County, Texas?+
The full 5-digit U.S. Census FIPS code for Upton County is 48461, made up of Texas state code 48 and the 3-digit county code 461. 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.