The county covers the part of the west coast of the Eyre Peninsula overlooking the Great Australian Bight between Talia Beach in Anxious Bay in the north and Cape Drummond in the south, and extends inland from the coastline for a distance of about. The town of Elliston falls within the county's borders, and the towns of Lock, Tooligie and Yeelanna are located adjacent to the county's eastern boundary. The Flinders Highway passes along the coastline of the county from the northwest to the southeast, the Tod Highway passes through the county in a north–south alignment near its eastern boundary, and the Birdseye Highway passes through the county in a west–east direction between Elliston and Lock. The Port Lincoln to Wudinna line of the Eyre Peninsula Railway passes through the county near its eastern boundary in a north–south alignment with a branch line terminating at Kapinne in the county's south, and with stations at Lock and Yeelanna.
Constituent hundreds
The county comprises 20 hundreds. The hundreds are laid out from west to east in four rows as follows:
Colton, Talia, Tinline, Squire, McIntosh and Ulyerra.
Ward, Hudd, Kappawanta, Blesing and a cluster consisting of Barwell, McLachan and Cowan.
Way, Pearce, Haig and Peachna.
Kiana, Mitchell and Shannon.
Hundred of Barwell
The Hundred of Barwell was proclaimed on 4 December 1919. It covers an area of and is named after Sir Henry Barwell, a former member of the South Australian Parliament.
Hundred of Blesing
The Hundred of Blesing was proclaimed on 30 January 1936. It covers an area of and is named after A P Blesing, a former member of the South Australian Parliament.
The Hundred of Colton, proclaimed on 22 June 1876, covers an area of and is named after John Colton, a former member of the South Australian Parliament.
Hundred of Cowan
The Hundred of Cowan was proclaimed on 4 July 1929. It covers an area of and is named after John Cowan, a former member of the South Australian Parliament.
Hundred of Haig
The Hundred of Haig was proclaimed on 9 July 1885 as the Hundred of Homburg which was named after Robert Homburg, a member of the South Australian Parliament. In 1916, the hundred was renamed as part of the policy to change "names of enemy origin". The name Poondulta was proposed but did not proceed. The hundred was finally renamed as the Hundred of Haig after the British soldier, Douglas Haig, 1st Earl Haig. As the Hundred of Homburg, it covered an area of while as the Hundred of Haig, it covers an area of.
Hundred of Hudd
The Hundred of Hudd was proclaimed on 31 January 1936. It covers an area of and is named after Sir Herbert Sydney Hudd, a former member of the South Australian Parliament.
Hundred of Kappawanta
The Hundred of Kappawanta was proclaimed on 31 January 1936. It covers an area of and is named after the Kappawanta Homestead.
Hundred of Kiana
The Hundred of Kiana was proclaimed on 18 September 1879. It covers an area of and its name is reportedly derived from an Aboriginal name.
Hundred of McIntosh
The Hundred of McIntosh was proclaimed on 20/ December 1934. It covers an area of and is named after Sir Malcolm McIntosh, a former member of the South Australian Parliament.
Hundred of McLachan
The Hundred of McLachan was proclaimed on 25 April 1895. It covers an area of and is named after J McLachlan, a former member of the South Australian Parliament.
Hundred of Mitchell
The Hundred of Mitchell was proclaimed on 26 November 1903. It covers an area of and is named after Samuel James Mitchell, a member of the South Australian Parliament at the time.
Hundred of Peachna
The Hundred of Peachna was proclaimed on 3 August 1916. It covers an area of and its name is reportedly derived from an Aboriginal name.
Hundred of Pearce
The Hundred of Pearce was proclaimed on 4 December 1884. It covers an area of and is named after James Pearce, a former member of the South Australian Parliament.
Hundred of Shannon
The Hundred of Shannon was proclaimed on 15 January 1903. It covers an area of and is named after John Shannon, a former member of the South Australian Parliament.
Hundred of Squire
The Hundred of Squire was proclaimed on 8 March 1894. It covers an area of and was named “in memory of the late Mr. Edward Squire, Deputy Postmaster-General.”
Hundred of Talia
The Hundred of Talia was proclaimed on 22 September 1881. It covers an area of and its name is reportedly derived from an Aboriginal word meaning “near water.”
Hundred of Tinline
The Hundred of Tinline was proclaimed on 22 September 1881. It covers an area of and is named after George Tinline, a former member of the South Australian Parliament.
Hundred of Ulyerra
The Hundred of Ulyerra was proclaimed on 24 September 1925. It covers an area of and its name is reportedly derived from an aboriginal word meaning “good.”
Hundred of Ward
The Hundred of Ward was proclaimed on 22 June 1876. It covers an area of and is named after Ebenezer Ward, a former member of the South Australian Parliament.
