Geography of Bell County
Bell County sits at roughly 31.04° N and 97.48° W in the Central Texas region of Texas, spanning 1,059 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 Belton, and the county shares boundaries with 7 neighboring counties.
Population & demographics
With approximately 402,248 residents across 1,059 square miles, Bell County has a population density of about 379.8 people per square mile. Density here reflects a mix of small cities, suburbs, and rural land.
County seat: Belton
Belton serves as the seat of government for Bell 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
Bell County was established in 1850 and was named for Peter Hansborough Bell, the third governor of Texas (1849–1853). It was carved from territory previously part of Milam County.
Bell County, Texas — frequently asked questions
Quick answers about Bell 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 Bell County, Texas located?+
Bell County is located in the Central Texas region of Texas at approximately 31.038° N, 97.478° W. It is one of the 254 counties of Texas and carries U.S. Census FIPS code 48027. The interactive map on this page renders the official U.S. Census TIGER boundary for Bell County over real-world OpenStreetMap, Esri satellite, and topographic basemaps.
How big is Bell County in square miles?+
Bell County covers approximately 1,059 square miles of land in the Central Texas region — a mid-sized Texas county. By land area it ranks 59th 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 Bell County, Texas?+
Bell County has a population of approximately 402,248 residents. With 1,059 square miles of land, that works out to a population density of about 379.8 people per square mile, which is densely populated for a Texas county. That makes Bell County the 15th most populous of the 254 counties in Texas.
What is the county seat of Bell County?+
Belton is the county seat of Bell County, Texas, which was organized in 1850 and named for Peter Hansborough Bell, the third governor of Texas (1849–1853). Bell County was originally carved out of Milam County. County government offices, courthouses, and most public records for Bell County are located in Belton.
Which Texas counties border Bell County?+
Bell County shares borders with Williamson, McLennan, Lampasas, Milam, Coryell, Burnet, and Falls counties. These 7 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 Bell County?+
A free, print-ready PDF map of Bell 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 Bell 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 Bell County, Texas?+
The full 5-digit U.S. Census FIPS code for Bell County is 48027, made up of Texas state code 48 and the 3-digit county code 027. 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.