Geography of Wilbarger County
Wilbarger County sits at roughly 34.08° N and 99.24° W in the North Texas region of Texas, spanning 971 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 Vernon, and the county shares boundaries with 4 neighboring counties.
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
Vernon serves as the seat of government for Wilbarger 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
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. Every answer is generated from the official U.S. Census data backing this site.
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?+
A free, print-ready PDF map of Wilbarger 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 Wilbarger 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 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.