Geography of Baylor County
Few places in Texas are as wide open as Baylor County. Only around 3,472 people live in its 871 square miles, and ranchland stretches for miles between settlements.
It lies in the North Texas region at about 33.62° N, 99.21° W and is 178th in size among Texas's 254 counties. Baylor County shares boundaries with 5 other Texas counties, and the closest major cities are Wichita Falls (about 46 miles away in a straight line) and Abilene (about 86 miles).
North Texas runs from the Dallas–Fort Worth Metroplex out to the Red River and the Rolling Plains. It mixes one of America's largest urban regions with wheat fields, cattle country and small towns that grew up along railroads.
For a broader view of how Baylor 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 3,472 residents across 871 square miles, Baylor County has a population density of about 4.0 people per square mile. Like much of West and South Texas, the county is sparsely populated, with wide-open country between settlements.
County seat: Seymour
County government for Baylor County is based in Seymour. 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. In a county this sparsely settled, Seymour may be one of only a few incorporated towns.
History & name origin
Baylor County was established in 1858 and was named for Henry Weidner Baylor, a surgeon in the Texas Rangers during the Mexican–American War. It was carved from territory previously part of Fannin County.
Baylor County, Texas — frequently asked questions
Quick answers about Baylor 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 Baylor County, Texas located?+
Baylor County is located in the North Texas region of Texas at approximately 33.617° N, 99.213° W. It is one of the 254 counties of Texas and carries U.S. Census FIPS code 48023. The interactive map on this page renders the official U.S. Census TIGER boundary for Baylor County over real-world OpenStreetMap, Esri satellite, and topographic basemaps.
How big is Baylor County in square miles?+
Baylor County covers approximately 871 square miles of land in the North Texas region — a mid-sized Texas county. By land area it ranks 178th 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 Baylor County, Texas?+
Baylor County has a population of approximately 3,472 residents. With 871 square miles of land, that works out to a population density of about 4.0 people per square mile, which is sparsely populated for a Texas county. That makes Baylor County the 211th most populous of the 254 counties in Texas.
What is the county seat of Baylor County?+
Seymour is the county seat of Baylor County, Texas, which was organized in 1858 and named for Henry Weidner Baylor, a surgeon in the Texas Rangers during the Mexican–American War. Baylor County was originally carved out of Fannin County. County government offices, courthouses, and most public records for Baylor County are located in Seymour.
Which Texas counties border Baylor County?+
Baylor County shares borders with Throckmorton, Foard, Knox, Archer, and Wilbarger 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 North Texas region.
Where can I download or print a map of Baylor County?+
Use the "Download PDF" button below the Baylor 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 Baylor 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 Baylor County, Texas?+
The full 5-digit U.S. Census FIPS code for Baylor County is 48023, made up of Texas state code 48 and the 3-digit county code 023. 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.