Geography of Wheeler County
Wheeler County is classic frontier Texas: 914 square miles of open land with only about 4,773 residents, which makes it one of the most thinly settled counties in the state (195th of 254 by density).
It lies in the Panhandle region at about 35.40° N, 100.27° W and is 122nd in size among Texas's 254 counties. It is a border county, touching Oklahoma. Wheeler County shares boundaries with 3 other Texas counties, and the closest major cities are Amarillo (about 89 miles away in a straight line) and Wichita Falls (about 144 miles).
The Texas Panhandle sits atop the High Plains, a nearly flat tableland cut by the Canadian River and the canyons of the Caprock. Wheat, grain sorghum, feedlots, wind energy and natural gas define the area, and winters here are the coldest in Texas.
For a broader view of how Wheeler 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 4,773 residents across 914 square miles, Wheeler County has a population density of about 5.2 people per square mile. Like much of West and South Texas, the county is sparsely populated, with wide-open country between settlements.
County seat: Wheeler
If you need an official record from Wheeler County — a deed, a birth certificate, a court filing — Wheeler is where it is kept. The town shares its name with the county. Like every Texas county seat, it hosts the courthouse and the main offices of county government. In a county this sparsely settled, Wheeler may be one of only a few incorporated towns.
History & name origin
Wheeler County was established in 1876 and was named for Royal Tyler Wheeler, the second Chief Justice of the Texas Supreme Court. It was carved from territory previously part of Bexar County.
Wheeler County, Texas — frequently asked questions
Quick answers about Wheeler 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 Wheeler County, Texas located?+
Wheeler County is located in the Panhandle region of Texas at approximately 35.401° N, 100.270° W. It is one of the 254 counties of Texas and carries U.S. Census FIPS code 48483. The interactive map on this page renders the official U.S. Census TIGER boundary for Wheeler County over real-world OpenStreetMap, Esri satellite, and topographic basemaps.
How big is Wheeler County in square miles?+
Wheeler County covers approximately 914 square miles of land in the Panhandle region — a mid-sized Texas county. By land area it ranks 122nd 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 Wheeler County, Texas?+
Wheeler County has a population of approximately 4,773 residents. With 914 square miles of land, that works out to a population density of about 5.2 people per square mile, which is sparsely populated for a Texas county. That makes Wheeler County the 202nd most populous of the 254 counties in Texas.
What is the county seat of Wheeler County?+
Wheeler is the county seat of Wheeler County, Texas, which was organized in 1876 and named for Royal Tyler Wheeler, the second Chief Justice of the Texas Supreme Court. Wheeler County was originally carved out of Bexar County. County government offices, courthouses, and most public records for Wheeler County are located in Wheeler.
Which Texas counties border Wheeler County?+
Wheeler County shares borders with Hemphill, Collingsworth, and Gray counties. These 3 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 Panhandle region.
Where can I download or print a map of Wheeler County?+
Use the "Download PDF" button below the Wheeler 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 Wheeler 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 Wheeler County, Texas?+
The full 5-digit U.S. Census FIPS code for Wheeler County is 48483, made up of Texas state code 48 and the 3-digit county code 483. 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.