Geography of Bell County
Much of Bell County's 1,059 square miles now functions as part of a larger metro area: its population of about 402,248 gives it a density well above the Texas county average.
It lies in the Central Texas region at about 31.04° N, 97.48° W and is 59th in size among Texas's 254 counties. Bell County shares boundaries with 7 other Texas counties, and the closest major cities are Waco (about 40 miles away in a straight line) and Austin (about 55 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 Bell 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 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 is the county seat of Bell County. This is where the county courthouse stands and where residents go for property records, vehicle registration, marriage licenses, court cases and voter services handled by the county clerk, district clerk and tax assessor-collector. As the county has grown, some offices have added annex locations closer to newer suburbs.
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. Figures are sourced from the U.S. Census Bureau; answers are written and reviewed by the Texas County Map team.
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?+
Use the "Download PDF" button below the Bell 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 Bell 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 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.