Geography of Ward County
Ward County sits at roughly 31.51° N and 103.10° W in the West Texas region of Texas, spanning 836 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 Monahans, and the county shares boundaries with 6 neighboring counties.
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
Monahans serves as the seat of government for Ward 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
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. Every answer is generated from the official U.S. Census data backing this site.
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?+
A free, print-ready PDF map of Ward 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 Ward 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 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.