Andrews County is a county in Texas, United States, on the eastern edge of the Permian Basin in the west-central part of the state. It had a population of 18,610 at the 2020 census and covers 1,501 square miles (3,890 km2) centred near 32°18′N 102°38′W.
Andrews is the county seat, and its postal code is 79714. The county has one incorporated city and a handful of unincorporated communities, sits in the Central time zone, and carries FIPS code 48003. Andrews County anchors the Andrews Micropolitan Statistical Area.
Towns & Villages in Andrews County
Andrews County has a single incorporated city — Andrews itself, which holds nearly the entire population — plus several unincorporated communities and named ranch/windmill locales scattered across the county’s oil-field back roads. Texas has no civil townships, so the table below lists only Place, Type, Pop. and ZIP.
| Place | Type | Pop. | ZIP |
|---|---|---|---|
| Andrews | City · seat | 18,610 | 79714 |
| Florey | Unincorp. | — | 79714 |
| Frankel City | Unincorp. | — | 79714 |
| Coyote Corner | Unincorp. | — | 79714 |
| McKinney Acres | Unincorp. | — | 79714 |
| Old Place Windmill | Unincorp. | — | 79714 |
| Sixteen Corner Windmill | Unincorp. | — | 79714 |
| Waldon Place Windmill | Unincorp. | — | 79714 |
Florey and Frankel City are the county’s two named unincorporated communities on record. Coyote Corner, McKinney Acres and the three windmill locales are minor named ranch/well-site locations that appear on county and topographic maps rather than populated places with their own census figures — no separate population count exists for any of them.
ZIP Codes
- 79714 — Andrews (the only ZIP code in Andrews County; it serves the entire county, including Florey and Frankel City)
Geography
Andrews County sits on the caprock of the southern High Plains, a flat to gently rolling landscape dotted with playa lakes that fill only after heavy rain. Baird Lake and Shafter Lake are the two largest. The county is almost entirely dry land — only about 0.4 square miles (1.0 km2), roughly 0.02% of the total area, is water. Mesquite and shortgrass rangeland cover most of the terrain outside the oilfield infrastructure.
Andrews County borders Gaines County to the north, Martin County to the east, Midland County to the southeast, Ector County to the south, Winkler County to the southwest, and Lea County, New Mexico, to the west.
Demographics
Andrews County had 18,610 residents at the 2020 census, for a density of about 12 people per square mile. Andrews, the county seat, holds most of that population; Frankel City is the county’s next-named community but has no separate census count of its own. Median household income in the county runs below the Texas median of $75,780, reflecting an economy concentrated in oilfield employment rather than a diversified wage base.
Economy & Local Life
Oil and gas drive the county’s economy — Andrews County sits atop part of the Permian Basin, and drilling, well servicing and related trucking employ much of the workforce. Local businesses, from oilfield-supply yards to trucking outfits, cluster along US 385 and around Andrews itself. Waste Control Specialists operates a low-level radioactive and hazardous waste disposal facility in the county, one of only a few of its kind in the country. Agriculture (cattle ranching and some irrigated cropland) continues alongside the oilfield economy, and Andrews Independent School District serves as one of the county’s largest non-oilfield employers.
History
Andrews County was created from Tom Green County on August 21, 1876, but stayed unorganized for decades until it was formally organized in 1910. It is named for Richard Andrews, a soldier killed at the Battle of Concepción during the Texas Revolution — reportedly the first Texan to die in that war. Like much of the surrounding Permian Basin, the county’s modern growth followed the discovery of oil in the region in the 20th century.
Getting There
US Highway 385 and State Highways 115, 128 and 176 cross the county, along with Loop 1910 around Andrews and several farm-to-market roads.
- Odessa — about 35 miles southeast
- Midland — about 40 miles southeast
- Seminole — about 30 miles north
- Hobbs, New Mexico — about 40 miles west
The nearest commercial airport is Midland International Air and Space Port, roughly 40 miles southeast of Andrews.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Andrews County?
It is in West Texas, on the eastern edge of the Permian Basin, bordering New Mexico to the west.
What is the population of Andrews County?
18,610 people, per the 2020 census.
How big is Andrews County?
1,501 square miles (3,890 km2).
What is the county seat of Andrews County?
Andrews is the county seat and the county’s only incorporated city.
How many towns are in Andrews County?
One incorporated city (Andrews) and a small number of unincorporated communities, including Florey and Frankel City.
What ZIP codes are in Andrews County?
79714, the only ZIP code in the county.
What is Andrews County’s economy based on?
Oil and gas production from the Permian Basin, along with cattle ranching.
More counties in this state: Towns and villages in Texas.