Yoakum County is a county in Texas, United States, in the western part of the state, on the New Mexico border about 70 miles southwest of Lubbock. It had a population of 7,694 at the 2020 census, covers 800 square miles (2,100 km2) of flat High Plains terrain, and is centred near 33°11′N 102°49′W.
Plains is the county seat, and its postal code is 79355. The county has one incorporated city (Denver City), one incorporated town (Plains), and several unincorporated communities. Yoakum County sits in the Central Time Zone.
Towns & Villages in Yoakum County
Denver City is the county’s largest community and its economic center; Plains is the seat of government. The remaining settlements are small unincorporated crossroads tied to ranching and oilfield work.
| Place | Type | Pop. | ZIP |
|---|---|---|---|
| Denver City | City | 4,470 | 79323 |
| Plains | Town · seat | 1,355 | 79355 |
| Allred | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Bronco | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Pleasant Hill | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Sligo | Unincorp. | — | — |
ZIP Codes
- 79323 — Denver City (also serves the county’s northern ranches)
- 79355 — Plains (also serves the county’s southern and western ranchland)
Allred, Bronco, Pleasant Hill and Sligo have no post office of their own and are served by the Denver City or Plains ZIPs depending on location.
Geography
Yoakum County lies on the flat, treeless Llano Estacado of the Texas High Plains, drained by shallow playa lakes rather than rivers; Sulphur Springs Draw crosses the southern part of the county near Plains. Elevation runs roughly 3,300 to 3,700 feet, and the land is used almost entirely for cotton and cattle ranching outside the oilfields around Denver City. The county borders four neighbors: Cochran County to the north, Terry County to the east, Gaines County to the south, and Lea County, New Mexico, to the west.
Demographics
Yoakum County had 7,694 residents at the 2020 census; the 2025 estimate puts the population at 7,438, a slow decline typical of oil- and ranch-dependent West Texas counties. Denver City and Plains are the two largest communities, together holding more than three-quarters of the county’s population. Median household income in Yoakum County runs below the Texas state figure of $75,780, reflecting the boom-bust nature of oilfield pay. Population density is about 9.6 people per square mile, among the more sparsely settled counties on the South Plains.
Economy & Local Life
Oil and gas dominate Yoakum County’s economy; the Denver City area has produced crude since a major 1935 strike, and pumpjacks remain a common sight across the county. Cotton farming and cattle ranching support the rural economy outside the oilfield, aided by groundwater irrigation from the Ogallala Aquifer. Denver City Independent School District and Plains Independent School District are the county’s largest public employers. Yoakum County was a legally dry county for most of its history; voters approved liquor sales in 2013, ending one of the last holdouts among Texas’s dry counties.
History
The Texas Legislature created Yoakum County in 1876, but it remained unorganized ranchland for decades until settlers arrived with the state land sales of the early 1900s; the county organized its government in 1907. It is named for Henderson King Yoakum, a Texas historian and soldier. Oil exploration began in the area in 1927, and a significant 1935 strike near Denver City triggered a population and construction boom that built the city into the county’s commercial hub.
Getting There
U.S. Routes 82 and 380 and Texas Highways 83 and 214 cross Yoakum County, linking Denver City and Plains to the wider South Plains highway network.
- Lubbock — about 70 miles northeast
- Hobbs, New Mexico — about 25 miles west
- Seminole — about 30 miles east
- Midland — about 90 miles south
Lubbock Preston Smith International Airport is the nearest commercial airport. Amtrak does not serve this part of West Texas; the closest stations are hundreds of miles away.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Yoakum County, Texas?
It is in far West Texas on the New Mexico border, about 70 miles southwest of Lubbock.
What is the Plains postcode?
The Plains ZIP code is 79355; Denver City’s is 79323.
What is the population of Yoakum County?
Yoakum County had a population of 7,694 at the 2020 census, with a 2025 estimate of 7,438.
What is the largest town in Yoakum County?
Denver City is the largest community, with 4,470 residents at the 2020 census; Plains is the county seat.
What is Yoakum County’s economy based on?
Oil and gas production, plus cotton farming and cattle ranching irrigated from the Ogallala Aquifer.
Who is Yoakum County named after?
Henderson King Yoakum, a 19th-century Texas historian and soldier.
Was Yoakum County a dry county?
Yes, until 2013, when voters approved a liquor sales referendum ending decades of prohibition.
More counties in this state: Towns and villages in Texas.