Geography of Bastrop County
Covering 888 square miles, Bastrop County combines a regional trade center at Bastrop with farm and ranch land in every direction. About 118,908 people live here.
It lies in the Central Texas region at about 30.10° N, 97.31° W and is 166th in size among Texas's 254 counties. Bastrop County shares boundaries with 5 other Texas counties, and the closest major cities are Austin (about 28 miles away in a straight line) and College Station (about 69 miles).
Central Texas stretches across the Hill Country, the Blackland Prairie and the Cross Timbers. It includes some of the fastest-growing suburbs in the nation along the I-35 corridor, alongside quiet ranching counties with limestone creeks and live-oak savanna.
For a broader view of how Bastrop County fits within the state, download our free Texas map with counties and cities PDF — a printable, high-resolution reference showing all 254 Texas counties labeled with their county seats.
Population & demographics
With approximately 118,908 residents across 888 square miles, Bastrop County has a population density of about 133.9 people per square mile. Density here reflects a mix of small cities, suburbs, and rural land.
County seat: Bastrop
County government for Bastrop County is based in Bastrop — one of several Texas county seats that carry the same name as their county. The commissioners court, made up of a county judge and four precinct commissioners, meets here and sets the county budget, roads policy and tax rate. Bastrop also serves as the main shopping, school and healthcare center for much of the county.
History & name origin
Bastrop County was established in 1836 and was named for Baron Felipe Enrique Neri de Bastrop, the Dutch settler who provided essential help to Stephen F. Austin in obtaining his original land grants. It was carved from territory previously part of One of the original 23 counties.
Bastrop County, Texas — frequently asked questions
Quick answers about Bastrop County geography, population, county seat, neighboring counties, and how to use the maps on this page. Figures are sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau; answers are written and reviewed by the Texas County Map team.
Where is Bastrop County, Texas located?+
Bastrop County is located in the Central Texas region of Texas at approximately 30.104° N, 97.312° W. It is one of the 254 counties of Texas and carries U.S. Census FIPS code 48021. The interactive map on this page renders the official U.S. Census TIGER boundary for Bastrop County over real-world OpenStreetMap, Esri satellite, and topographic basemaps.
How big is Bastrop County in square miles?+
Bastrop County covers approximately 888 square miles of land in the Central Texas region — a mid-sized Texas county. By land area it ranks 166th 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 Bastrop County, Texas?+
Bastrop County has a population of approximately 118,908 residents. With 888 square miles of land, that works out to a population density of about 133.9 people per square mile, which is moderately populated for a Texas county. That makes Bastrop County the 42nd most populous of the 254 counties in Texas.
What is the county seat of Bastrop County?+
Bastrop is the county seat of Bastrop County, Texas, which was organized in 1836 and named for Baron Felipe Enrique Neri de Bastrop, the Dutch settler who provided essential help to Stephen F. Austin in obtaining his original land grants. Bastrop County was originally carved out of One of the original 23 counties. County government offices, courthouses, and most public records for Bastrop County are located in Bastrop.
Which Texas counties border Bastrop County?+
Bastrop County shares borders with Lee, Travis, Williamson, Caldwell, and Fayette 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 Central Texas region.
Where can I download or print a map of Bastrop County?+
Use the "Download PDF" button below the Bastrop County map on this page to save a letter-size PDF of the county boundary, neighboring counties and incorporated places, drawn from U.S. Census Bureau 2023 boundary files. The "Official TxDOT road map" button downloads the Texas Department of Transportation county road mapbook for Bastrop County. Both files are stored on this site and download directly. Our free Texas map with counties and cities PDF shows all 254 counties on one sheet.
What is the FIPS code for Bastrop County, Texas?+
The full 5-digit U.S. Census FIPS code for Bastrop County is 48021, made up of Texas state code 48 and the 3-digit county code 021. 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.