Finding tweets from specific geographic locations requires understanding X's geocode search functionality. Whether you're researching local events, finding nearby users, or monitoring regional conversations, location-based search provides powerful filtering capabilities.

Understanding Geocode Search

Geocode search uses latitude and longitude coordinates to find tweets posted from specific locations. Combined with a radius, you can define a circular area and retrieve all geotagged content within it.

The format is:

geocode:latitude,longitude,radius

Example searching Washington DC within 5 miles:

geocode:38.8951,-77.0364,5mi

Basic Location Search Operators

X provides several ways to search by location:

The "near:" Operator

Search for tweets posted in a named location:

near:Seattle
near:"New York"
near:London

This searches for content tagged with or posted near the specified city, state, or country.

The "within:" Operator

Combine with "near:" to set a radius:

near:Chicago within:10mi
near:Paris within:5km

Supported units:

• mi for miles
• km for kilometers

Combined Search

Add keywords to location searches:

"coffee shop" near:Portland within:5mi
#tech near:"San Francisco" within:25mi

Using Coordinates for Precise Search

For exact location targeting, use coordinates:

Finding Coordinates

1. Open Google Maps
2. Right-click on your target location
3. Select the coordinates to copy them
4. Format: latitude,longitude

Geocode Search Examples

Searching Times Square, NYC (5-mile radius):

geocode:40.7580,-73.9855,5mi

Searching Eiffel Tower, Paris (2km radius):

geocode:48.8584,2.2945,2km

Searching with keywords:

concert geocode:34.0522,-118.2437,10mi

Using "Near You" in the X App

The app provides a built-in location filter:

1. Open X and perform a search
2. Tap the filter icon
3. Under "Location," select "Near you"
4. X shows posts from your current area

This uses your device's location rather than manual coordinates.

Practical Applications

Local News Monitoring

Find firsthand accounts of local events:

earthquake geocode:34.0522,-118.2437,50mi
fire near:California within:100mi

Event Coverage

Monitor discussions at specific venues:

#conference2026 geocode:37.7749,-122.4194,1mi

Community Engagement

Find local conversations in your area:

small business near:"Austin Texas" within:20mi

Research and Investigation

Journalists and researchers use geocode search to:

• Verify eyewitness accounts
• Find sources at specific locations
• Track developing stories geographically

Important Limitations

Not All Tweets Have Location

Most X users don't enable location tagging. The feature is opt-in and disabled by default. This means geocode searches return only a fraction of tweets actually posted from an area.

What gets tagged:

• Posts where users manually enabled location
• Content with location added in the composer

What doesn't appear:

• Posts without location enabled
• Content from private accounts

Time Limitations

Location-based search works best for recent content:

• Very recent tweets (within hours) have the best coverage
• Older content may have degraded location metadata
• Profile location only affects results for approximately one week

Radius Restrictions

X limits the maximum search radius to approximately 25 miles (40 km). For larger areas, run multiple searches with different center points.

Accuracy Varies

Location data precision varies:

• GPS coordinates: Most accurate
• Cell tower triangulation: Moderate accuracy
• IP-based location: Low accuracy
• Manual location tags: Depends on user input

Advanced Techniques

Combining Multiple Filters

Create complex queries with multiple parameters:

#startup -investment near:"San Francisco" within:25mi since:2026-01-01

This finds startup-related tweets near San Francisco since January 2026, excluding those mentioning investment.

Multiple Location Searches

X doesn't support OR logic for locations in a single search. Run separate searches:

Search 1: keyword near:NYC within:10mi
Search 2: keyword near:LA within:10mi

Monitoring with Saved Searches

Save your geocode searches for quick access:

1. Perform your location search
2. Tap the three dots menu
3. Select "Save this search"
4. Access later from the search tab

Tools That Enhance Location Search

Several services extend X's location capabilities:

Advanced search tools:

• Geographic visualization
• Historical data access
• Export functionality
• Multiple location monitoring

Research tools:

• Enhanced coordinate precision
• Verification features
• Time-based filtering

These are particularly useful for journalists, researchers, and businesses monitoring regional conversations.

Enabling Location on Your Posts

If you want your posts to appear in location searches:

1. Open the post composer
2. Tap the location icon
3. Enable location services for X
4. Select your location or let X detect it automatically

You can:

• Use precise location (coordinates)
• Tag a place (venue, city)
• Leave it off (default)

Privacy Considerations

Location tagging reveals where you post from. Consider:

• Home location: Don't tag posts from your home address
• Travel patterns: Location history reveals your movements
• Safety: Some situations warrant disabling location

Review your location-tagged posts periodically and remove location from sensitive content.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why don't I see many results for my geocode search?

Most users don't enable location on their posts. Geocode search only returns explicitly geotagged content, which represents a small percentage of total posts.

Can I search for posts from an entire country?

Not directly with one search. Countries are too large for the radius limit. Instead, search major cities within the country separately, or use the "near:" operator with the country name for approximate results.

How do I find the coordinates for a specific address?

Use Google Maps: search for the address, right-click on the exact point, and the coordinates appear at the top of the menu. Copy them in latitude,longitude format.

Does X store location history even if I don't enable it?

X may collect location data for various purposes per their privacy policy, but this data isn't exposed in location search results. Only voluntarily tagged locations appear in geocode searches.

Can businesses use geocode search for local marketing?

Yes. Businesses search for conversations in their service area to find potential customers, respond to local discussions, and monitor brand mentions regionally.

Geocode search is a powerful but underutilized X feature. While limited by the small percentage of users who enable location, it provides unique value for finding geographically relevant content. Use coordinates for precision, named locations for convenience, and always consider the opt-in nature of location tagging when interpreting results.