Geography of Val Verde County
Val Verde County is a rural county of 3,171 square miles and about 47,835 residents, where farms and ranches fill most of the space between Del Rio and its smaller communities.
It lies in the Big Bend region at about 29.89° N, 101.15° W and is one of the 25 largest counties in Texas (7th of 254). It is a border county, touching Mexico (along the Rio Grande). Val Verde County shares boundaries with 5 other Texas counties, and the closest major cities are San Angelo (about 116 miles away in a straight line) and Midland (about 155 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 Val Verde 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 47,835 residents across 3,171 square miles, Val Verde County has a population density of about 15.1 people per square mile. Like much of West and South Texas, the county is sparsely populated, with wide-open country between settlements.
County seat: Del Rio
If you need an official record from Val Verde County — a deed, a birth certificate, a court filing — Del Rio 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 Del Rio combines county business with groceries, school events and church.
History & name origin
Val Verde County was established in 1885 and was named for Civil War Battle of Val Verde(Val Verde is Spanish for "green valley"). It was carved from territory previously part of Crockett County, Kinney County and Pecos County.
Val Verde County, Texas — frequently asked questions
Quick answers about Val Verde 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 Val Verde County, Texas located?+
Val Verde County is located in the Big Bend region of Texas at approximately 29.893° N, 101.152° W. It is one of the 254 counties of Texas and carries U.S. Census FIPS code 48465. The interactive map on this page renders the official U.S. Census TIGER boundary for Val Verde County over real-world OpenStreetMap, Esri satellite, and topographic basemaps.
How big is Val Verde County in square miles?+
Val Verde County covers approximately 3,171 square miles of land in the Big Bend region — a large county by Texas standards. By land area it ranks 7th 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 Val Verde County, Texas?+
Val Verde County has a population of approximately 47,835 residents. With 3,171 square miles of land, that works out to a population density of about 15.1 people per square mile, which is rural for a Texas county. That makes Val Verde County the 76th most populous of the 254 counties in Texas.
What is the county seat of Val Verde County?+
Del Rio is the county seat of Val Verde County, Texas, which was organized in 1885 and named for Civil War Battle of Val Verde(Val Verde is Spanish for "green valley"). Val Verde County was originally carved out of Crockett County, Kinney County and Pecos County. County government offices, courthouses, and most public records for Val Verde County are located in Del Rio.
Which Texas counties border Val Verde County?+
Val Verde County shares borders with Sutton, Terrell, Crockett, Kinney, and Edwards 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 Big Bend region.
Where can I download or print a map of Val Verde County?+
Use the "Download PDF" button below the Val Verde 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 Val Verde 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 Val Verde County, Texas?+
The full 5-digit U.S. Census FIPS code for Val Verde County is 48465, made up of Texas state code 48 and the 3-digit county code 465. 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.