Geography of Anderson County
Anderson County sits at roughly 31.81° N and 95.65° W in the East Texas region of Texas, spanning 1,071 square miles of terrain that includes the landscape characteristic of the area — from open ranchland and farmland to small-town main streets. The county's centroid is near Palestine, and the county shares boundaries with 5 neighboring counties.
Population & demographics
With approximately 59,805 residents across 1,071 square miles, Anderson County has a population density of about 55.8 people per square mile. Density here reflects a mix of small cities, suburbs, and rural land.
County seat: Palestine
Palestine serves as the seat of government for Anderson County. The county courthouse, commissioners court, district clerk, and primary public records are located here. As with all 254 Texas counties, the county seat is the anchor of civic life and the principal address for elections, permits, and court filings.
History & name origin
Anderson County was established in 1846 and was named for Kenneth Lewis Anderson (1805–1845), the last vice president of the Republic of Texas. It was carved from territory previously part of Houston County.
Anderson County, Texas — frequently asked questions
Quick answers about Anderson County geography, population, county seat, neighboring counties, and how to use the maps on this page. Every answer is generated from the official U.S. Census data backing this site.
Where is Anderson County, Texas located?+
Anderson County is located in the East Texas region of Texas at approximately 31.813° N, 95.653° W. It is one of the 254 counties of Texas and carries U.S. Census FIPS code 48001. The interactive map on this page renders the official U.S. Census TIGER boundary for Anderson County over real-world OpenStreetMap, Esri satellite, and topographic basemaps.
How big is Anderson County in square miles?+
Anderson County covers approximately 1,071 square miles of land in the East Texas region — a mid-sized Texas county. By land area it ranks 54th out of 254 Texas counties. The full bounding box of the county is rendered to scale on the interactive map and matches the U.S. Census TIGER 2023 polygon.
What is the population of Anderson County, Texas?+
Anderson County has a population of approximately 59,805 residents. With 1,071 square miles of land, that works out to a population density of about 55.8 people per square mile, which is moderately populated for a Texas county. That makes Anderson County the 59th most populous of the 254 counties in Texas.
What is the county seat of Anderson County?+
Palestine is the county seat of Anderson County, Texas, which was organized in 1846 and named for Kenneth Lewis Anderson (1805–1845), the last vice president of the Republic of Texas. Anderson County was originally carved out of Houston County. County government offices, courthouses, and most public records for Anderson County are located in Palestine.
Which Texas counties border Anderson County?+
Anderson County shares borders with Henderson, Houston, Leon, Cherokee, and Freestone counties. These 5 neighboring counties are highlighted on the schematic boundary map and linked at the bottom of this page so you can quickly compare population, area, and county seats across the East Texas region.
Where can I download or print a map of Anderson County?+
A free, print-ready PDF map of Anderson County is available from the "Download PDF" button at the top of this page. The printable layout uses authentic U.S. Census TIGER boundary geometry for Anderson County, includes a Texas locator inset, and is sized for standard 8.5" × 11" Letter paper. For interactive use, the live Leaflet map on this page supports OpenStreetMap, Esri satellite, Esri topographic, and Carto light basemaps with zoom, scale bar, and fullscreen.
What is the FIPS code for Anderson County, Texas?+
The full 5-digit U.S. Census FIPS code for Anderson County is 48001, made up of Texas state code 48 and the 3-digit county code 001. This is the same FIPS code used by the U.S. Census Bureau TIGER/Line files, the American Community Survey, and most federal datasets that key on county.