Geography of Ward County
Ward County is a rural county of 836 square miles and about 11,125 residents, where farms and ranches fill most of the space between Monahans and its smaller communities.
It lies in the West Texas region at about 31.51° N, 103.10° W and is 191st in size among Texas's 254 counties. Ward County shares boundaries with 6 other Texas counties, and the closest major cities are Midland (about 69 miles away in a straight line) and San Angelo (about 157 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 Ward 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 11,125 residents across 836 square miles, Ward County has a population density of about 13.3 people per square mile. Like much of West and South Texas, the county is sparsely populated, with wide-open country between settlements.
County seat: Monahans
County government for Ward County is based in Monahans. The commissioners court, made up of a county judge and four precinct commissioners, meets here and sets the county budget, roads policy and tax rate. For many residents, a trip to Monahans combines county business with groceries, school events and church.
History & name origin
Ward County was established in 1887 and was named for Thomas William Ward, a commissioner for the General Land Office of Texas and mayor of Austin, Texas. It was carved from territory previously part of Tom Green County.
Ward County, Texas — frequently asked questions
Quick answers about Ward 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 Ward County, Texas located?+
Ward County is located in the West Texas region of Texas at approximately 31.509° N, 103.103° W. It is one of the 254 counties of Texas and carries U.S. Census FIPS code 48475. The interactive map on this page renders the official U.S. Census TIGER boundary for Ward County over real-world OpenStreetMap, Esri satellite, and topographic basemaps.
How big is Ward County in square miles?+
Ward County covers approximately 836 square miles of land in the West Texas region — a mid-sized Texas county. By land area it ranks 191st 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 Ward County, Texas?+
Ward County has a population of approximately 11,125 residents. With 836 square miles of land, that works out to a population density of about 13.3 people per square mile, which is rural for a Texas county. That makes Ward County the 159th most populous of the 254 counties in Texas.
What is the county seat of Ward County?+
Monahans is the county seat of Ward County, Texas, which was organized in 1887 and named for Thomas William Ward, a commissioner for the General Land Office of Texas and mayor of Austin, Texas. Ward County was originally carved out of Tom Green County. County government offices, courthouses, and most public records for Ward County are located in Monahans.
Which Texas counties border Ward County?+
Ward County shares borders with Loving, Pecos, Winkler, Crane, Ector, and Reeves 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 Ward County?+
Use the "Download PDF" button below the Ward 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 Ward 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 Ward County, Texas?+
The full 5-digit U.S. Census FIPS code for Ward County is 48475, made up of Texas state code 48 and the 3-digit county code 475. 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.