Geography of Yoakum County
Yoakum County is a rural county of 800 square miles and about 7,438 residents, where farms and ranches fill most of the space between Plains and its smaller communities.
It lies in the West Texas region at about 33.17° N, 102.83° W and is 197th in size among Texas's 254 counties. It is a border county, touching New Mexico. Yoakum County shares boundaries with 3 other Texas counties, and the closest major cities are Lubbock (about 63 miles away in a straight line) and Midland (about 92 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 Yoakum 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 7,438 residents across 800 square miles, Yoakum County has a population density of about 9.3 people per square mile. Like much of West and South Texas, the county is sparsely populated, with wide-open country between settlements.
County seat: Plains
County government for Yoakum County is based in Plains. 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 Plains combines county business with groceries, school events and church.
History & name origin
Yoakum County was established in 1876 and was named for Henderson King Yoakum (1810–1856), soldier, attorney, and Texas historian. It was carved from territory previously part of Bexar County.
Yoakum County, Texas — frequently asked questions
Quick answers about Yoakum 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 Yoakum County, Texas located?+
Yoakum County is located in the West Texas region of Texas at approximately 33.173° N, 102.828° W. It is one of the 254 counties of Texas and carries U.S. Census FIPS code 48501. The interactive map on this page renders the official U.S. Census TIGER boundary for Yoakum County over real-world OpenStreetMap, Esri satellite, and topographic basemaps.
How big is Yoakum County in square miles?+
Yoakum County covers approximately 800 square miles of land in the West Texas region — a mid-sized Texas county. By land area it ranks 197th 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 Yoakum County, Texas?+
Yoakum County has a population of approximately 7,438 residents. With 800 square miles of land, that works out to a population density of about 9.3 people per square mile, which is sparsely populated for a Texas county. That makes Yoakum County the 182nd most populous of the 254 counties in Texas.
What is the county seat of Yoakum County?+
Plains is the county seat of Yoakum County, Texas, which was organized in 1876 and named for Henderson King Yoakum (1810–1856), soldier, attorney, and Texas historian. Yoakum County was originally carved out of Bexar County. County government offices, courthouses, and most public records for Yoakum County are located in Plains.
Which Texas counties border Yoakum County?+
Yoakum County shares borders with Cochran, Terry, and Gaines 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 West Texas region.
Where can I download or print a map of Yoakum County?+
Use the "Download PDF" button below the Yoakum 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 Yoakum 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 Yoakum County, Texas?+
The full 5-digit U.S. Census FIPS code for Yoakum County is 48501, made up of Texas state code 48 and the 3-digit county code 501. 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.