An Upton County Texas map places a sparsely settled West Texas county between the Midland area and the wide ranching and oil country farther south. Rankin is the county seat, McCamey anchors the southwest, and Midkiff lies well to the north of both cities.
The county recorded 3,308 residents in the 2020 census and had an estimated 3,131 residents in July 2025. Its 1,241.32 square miles of land make distance, rather than urban density, the defining feature of local geography.
Table of Contents
A County Shaped by Distance and Energy
Upton County is part of the arid interior of West Texas, roughly south of Midland. Its communities are separated by long stretches of open land, with the county’s modern identity developing around ranching, rail access, and petroleum production rather than a single continuous urban area.
Rankin serves as the seat of government and the main administrative center. McCamey grew from an oil discovery in the 1920s, while Midkiff provides a northern reference point near the Midland side of the county.
How the County Seat Moved
Upland was selected as the first county seat after county government was organized in 1910. The Kansas City, Mexico and Orient Railway reached Rankin instead of Upland, and residents shifted toward the rail stop. Upland declined, leaving Rankin as the lasting civic center.
This change explains why an abandoned historic site near the county’s center did not remain the dominant town. Transportation access redirected population and public activity toward the southern part of the county.
McCamey and the Oil Boom
George McCamey’s 1926 oil discovery created a new town in the county’s southwest corner. Thousands of newcomers arrived during the early boom, and rail facilities followed to support the producing fields.
Rankin also benefited as a supply and service center for the broader oil district. Oil remains one of the clearest links between the county’s settlement pattern, economy, and the identities of its two incorporated cities.
Population and Scale
| County seat | Rankin |
|---|---|
| 2020 census population | 3,308 |
| 2025 population estimate | 3,131 |
| 2020 land area | 1,241.32 square miles |
| 2020 population density | 2.7 people per square mile |
The Census Bureau’s 2025 estimate was 5.4 percent below the 2020 estimate base. Upton County had only 2.7 residents per square mile in 2020, best read as a network of separated communities and service centers rather than a compact population corridor.
Historic Travel Across a Dry Landscape
County historical materials describe Centralia Draw and Wild China Pond as landmarks known to nineteenth-century travelers. The same sources discuss portions of the Chihuahua Trail, Butterfield Overland Mail route, and Goodnight-Loving Trail crossing the region.
Water scarcity repeatedly shaped travel and settlement. That history gives context to the county’s long distances and to the importance of railroads, wells, and later petroleum infrastructure.
Reading the Map Before Downloading
Use the Upton County Texas map by locating Rankin in the southeastern portion, McCamey to the southwest, and Midkiff in the north. The county is bordered by Ector, Midland, Glasscock, Reagan, Crockett, and Crane counties, placing it directly between the Permian Basin’s larger centers and the open lands to the south.
Color Map
Separate fills distinguish Upton County from its six neighboring counties while keeping Rankin, McCamey, and Midkiff visible as internal reference points. McCamey and Rankin form two southern anchors, whereas Midkiff is isolated farther north. The broad spaces between those labels reflect the county’s low-density, arid West Texas setting.
Black-and-White Map
Without color fills, the eye follows the county outline and the spacing among McCamey, Rankin, and Midkiff. The southern east-west separation between the two cities remains clear, and the long gap toward Midkiff can be compared in a grayscale printout.
Outline Map
The outline version removes the original labels and colored areas while retaining the county and included boundary lines. It leaves room to add Rankin and McCamey, trace a route toward Midkiff, or mark oil-history and transportation locations for a custom project.
Download the County Map Files
The Upton County Texas map is available in color, black-and-white, and outline A3 JPG formats. Choose a labeled version for reference or the blank outline for new annotations.
County Map File Information
This download includes three A3 JPG versions of the Upton County map. The color and black-and-white maps show Rankin, McCamey, and Midkiff, while the outline version removes labels and fills.
- Included Versions: Color, Black and White, Outline
- File Type: JPG
- Printable Size: A3 high-resolution layout
- Map Detail: County boundary, included boundary lines, and surrounding county reference
- Intended Use: Printing, classroom materials, presentations, documents, and custom annotations
Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is the county seat of Upton County?
Rankin is the county seat. The earlier seat at Upland declined after the railroad reached Rankin instead.
What caused McCamey to grow?
McCamey developed rapidly after a 1926 oil discovery. The boom brought workers, businesses, and a railroad spur to the southwestern part of the county.
Does the outline file include place names?
No. The outline version removes the original place labels and color fills, leaving boundary lines for custom marking.
Sources and Further Reading
Upton County County Facts provides local history on Upland, Rankin, railroad development, and the early McCamey oil boom.
U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts supplies the 2020 population, 2025 estimate, land area, and population-density figures.
The Texas Department of Transportation city and town index confirms Rankin, McCamey, and Midkiff in the statewide county-map system.
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These maps are edited visual materials, not raw data files, and are provided for education, documents, presentations, and graphic reference.
