Geography of Yoakum County
Yoakum County sits at roughly 33.17° N and 102.83° W in the West Texas region of Texas, spanning 800 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 Plains, and the county shares boundaries with 3 neighboring counties.
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
Plains serves as the seat of government for Yoakum 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
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. Every answer is generated from the official U.S. Census data backing this site.
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?+
A free, print-ready PDF map of Yoakum 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 Yoakum 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 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.