The Texas Panhanle is a region of the U.S. state of Texas consisting of the northernmost 26 counties in the state. The panhandle is a rectangular area bordered by the state of New Mexico to the west and the state of Oklahoma to the north and east. The southern border of Swisher County is considered to be the southern boundary of the region, though some consider the region to extend as far south as Lubbock County. Its land area is 66,883.58 km² (25,823.9 sq mi), or nearly 10 percent of the state's total. There is an additional 162.53 km² (62.75 sq mi) of water area. Its population as of the 2000 census was 402,862 residents, or 1.932 percent of the state's population. The Panhandle is distinct from North Texas, which is more to the southeast.