Howard County
Howard County, Texas
Photograph Credit: Robert Plocheck.
Howard County, on the High Plains of West Texas eighty miles west of Abilene, is bordered by Glasscock, Martin, Dawson, Borden, Scurry, and Sterling counties. It lies at the eastern tip of the Permian Basin and at the foot of the escarpment marking the beginning of the Edwards Plateau, which extends 200 miles to the south. To the north is the Caprock, the edge of the Llano Estacado. The center of the county is at 32°18' north latitude and101°25' west longitude. Big Spring is the county seat and largest community. Interstate Highway 20 bisects the county from east to west, and U.S. Highway 87 runs northwest to southeast. State highways 33, 176, and 350 are other important roads. The county comprises 901 square miles and is drained by the North Concho River and Morgan and Wild Horse creeks. The soils range from light to very dark loams, with some deep clayey subsoils. Some areas also have considerable accumulations of lime in the subsoils. In the south central part of the county are outcroppings of limestone bedrock. Elevations range from 2,200 to 2,550 feet. The average annual rainfall is 15.88 inches. Temperatures in January range from an average low of 29° F to an average high of 57° and in July from 71° to 95°. The growing season lasts 217 days, with the last freeze in early April and the first in early November. Dust storms and high winds are common in the early spring and summer. The vegetation is typical of the High Plains region, with buffalo grass and blue grama predominating. Between 41 and 50 percent of the land in the county is considered prime farmland. Most of the county's annual income is derived from agriculture, with approximately 90 percent of receipts from cotton, wheat, and sorghum culture. Leading natural resources include oil and gas, sand, gravel, and stone.
Adapted from the official Handbook of Texas, a state encyclopedia developed by the Texas State Historical Association (TSHA). It is an authoritative source of trusted historical records.
Christopher Long | © Texas State Historical Association
Howard County at a Glance
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County Map of Texas
Howard County
- Howard County
Currently Exists
Yes
Place type
Howard County is classified as a County
Altitude Range
2180 ft – 2800 ft
Places of Howard County
Noteworthy | Place | Type |
---|---|---|
Auto | Town | |
Big Spring | Town | |
Bisco | Town | |
Chalkton | Town | |
Coahoma | Town | |
Elbow | Town | |
Fairview | Town | |
Forsan | Town | |
Knott | Town | |
Light | Town | |
Lomax | Town | |
Luther | Town | |
Midway | Town | |
Minterville | Town | |
Morita | Town | |
Morris | Town | |
Nall | Town | |
Natural Dam Lake | Lake | |
Otis Chalk | Town | |
Red Draw Reservoir | Lake | |
Ross City | Town | |
Sand Springs | Town | |
Soash | Town | |
South Haven | Town | |
Vealmoor | Town | |
Vincent | Town | |
Wakefield | Town | |
Walker | Town | |
Webb Village | Town | |
Willow Creek | Town | |
Ziler | Town |
Photos of Howard County and surrounding areas
Howard County, Texas
View of the Big Spring State Park Pavillion, located in Howard County, Texas.
Photograph Credit: Robert Plocheck.
Howard County, Texas
Landscape and moon of Big Spring State Park in Howard County, Texas.
Photograph Credit: Robert Plocheck.
Howard County, Texas
The Howard County Courthouse in located in the city of Big Spring, the seat of Howard County, Texas. Photograph by Billy Hathorn.

Howard County, Texas
Map of Howard County, Texas. Map Credit: Robert Plocheck.
Big Spring, Texas
Skyline of the city of Big Spring in Howard County, Texas.
Photograph Credit: Robert Plocheck.
Big Spring

Forsan, Howard County, Texas
Forsan is a city in southeastern Howard County, about 14 miles southeast of the county sea Big Spring. Photograph credit: David "Bigtex" via Wikimapia. Forsan

Coahoma, Howard County, Texas
A water tank depicting Coahoma Justice of the Peace and a well-known rodeo clown, Quail Dobb, near Coahoma, a town located in eastern Howard County, Texas. Photograph by Applejuicefool. Coahoma

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Howard County by the Numbers
Population & Civilian Labor Counts
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Population Counts
Howard County
Pop. | Year | Source |
---|---|---|
36,664 | 2019 | United States Census Bureau |
Civilian Labor Counts
Howard County
People | Year | Source |
---|---|---|
13,968 | 2019 | Texas Workforce Commission |
Per Capita Income
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Per Capita Income (USD) | Year | Source |
---|---|---|
$40,255 | 2019 | U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis |
Property Values, Retail Sales, and Wages
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Property Values
Howard County
USD ($) | Year | Source |
---|---|---|
5,010,061,371 | 2019 | State Property Tax Board |
Retail Sales
Howard County
USD ($) | Year | Source |
---|---|---|
600,280,989 | 2019 | State Comptroller of Public Accounts |
Wages
Howard County
USD ($) | Year | Source |
---|---|---|
189,251,209 | 2019 | Texas Workforce Commission |
Unemployment
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Unemployment Percentage | Year | Source |
---|---|---|
9.4 | 2019 | Texas Workforce Commission |
Rainfall
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Rainfall (inches) | Year | Source |
---|---|---|
19.5 | 2019 | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration |
Temperature Ranges
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Min. (January Average, °F) | Max. (July Average, °F) | Year | Source |
---|---|---|---|
31.3 | 94.6 | 2019 | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration |
Land Area & Total Area
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Land Area
Howard County
Area (square miles) | Year | Source |
---|---|---|
900.8 | 2019 | United States Census Bureau |
Total Area
Howard County
Area (square miles) | Year | Source |
---|---|---|
904.2 | 2019 | United States Census Bureau |