Geography of Wilbarger County
Small towns and open country define Wilbarger County. Its 12,481 residents are spread across 971 square miles, giving the county a density typical of rural Texas.
It lies in the North Texas region at about 34.08° N, 99.24° W and is 80th in size among Texas's 254 counties. It is a border county, touching Oklahoma. Wilbarger County shares boundaries with 4 other Texas counties, and the closest major cities are Wichita Falls (about 45 miles away in a straight line) and Abilene (about 116 miles).
North Texas runs from the Dallas–Fort Worth Metroplex out to the Red River and the Rolling Plains. It mixes one of America's largest urban regions with wheat fields, cattle country and small towns that grew up along railroads.
For a broader view of how Wilbarger 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 12,481 residents across 971 square miles, Wilbarger County has a population density of about 12.9 people per square mile. Like much of West and South Texas, the county is sparsely populated, with wide-open country between settlements.
County seat: Vernon
County government for Wilbarger County is based in Vernon. 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 Vernon combines county business with groceries, school events and church.
History & name origin
Wilbarger County was established in 1858 and was named for Josiah P. (1801–1845) and Mathias Wilbarger, brothers and early settlers; Josiah became a mythical figure for living 11 years after being scalped. It was carved from territory previously part of Bexar County.
Wilbarger County, Texas — frequently asked questions
Quick answers about Wilbarger 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 Wilbarger County, Texas located?+
Wilbarger County is located in the North Texas region of Texas at approximately 34.081° N, 99.241° W. It is one of the 254 counties of Texas and carries U.S. Census FIPS code 48487. The interactive map on this page renders the official U.S. Census TIGER boundary for Wilbarger County over real-world OpenStreetMap, Esri satellite, and topographic basemaps.
How big is Wilbarger County in square miles?+
Wilbarger County covers approximately 971 square miles of land in the North Texas region — a mid-sized Texas county. By land area it ranks 80th 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 Wilbarger County, Texas?+
Wilbarger County has a population of approximately 12,481 residents. With 971 square miles of land, that works out to a population density of about 12.9 people per square mile, which is rural for a Texas county. That makes Wilbarger County the 151st most populous of the 254 counties in Texas.
What is the county seat of Wilbarger County?+
Vernon is the county seat of Wilbarger County, Texas, which was organized in 1858 and named for Josiah P. (1801–1845) and Mathias Wilbarger, brothers and early settlers; Josiah became a mythical figure for living 11 years after being scalped. Wilbarger County was originally carved out of Bexar County. County government offices, courthouses, and most public records for Wilbarger County are located in Vernon.
Which Texas counties border Wilbarger County?+
Wilbarger County shares borders with Hardeman, Baylor, Foard, and Wichita counties. These 4 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 North Texas region.
Where can I download or print a map of Wilbarger County?+
Use the "Download PDF" button below the Wilbarger 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 Wilbarger 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 Wilbarger County, Texas?+
The full 5-digit U.S. Census FIPS code for Wilbarger County is 48487, made up of Texas state code 48 and the 3-digit county code 487. 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.