Geography of Bexar County
Bexar County is one of the urban anchors of Texas. Its 1,247 square miles hold a population of about 2,160,088, and the county ranks 4th in the state by population.
It lies in the South Texas region at about 29.45° N, 98.52° W and is 36th in size among Texas's 254 counties. Bexar County shares boundaries with 7 other Texas counties, and the closest major cities are San Antonio (about 3 miles away in a straight line) and Austin (about 74 miles).
South Texas covers the brush country, the Rio Grande Valley and the ranchlands south of San Antonio. Its culture is strongly shaped by its Tejano heritage and its ties to Mexico, and its economy blends citrus and vegetable farming, ranching, trade and energy.
For a broader view of how Bexar 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 2,160,088 residents across 1,247 square miles, Bexar County has a population density of about 1732.2 people per square mile. It ranks among the more densely populated counties in Texas — a clear sign of metropolitan urbanization.
County seat: San Antonio
If you need an official record from Bexar County — a deed, a birth certificate, a court filing — San Antonio is where it is kept. Like every Texas county seat, it hosts the courthouse and the main offices of county government. In a county this large, many services are also offered at satellite offices across the county.
History & name origin
Bexar County was established in 1836 and was named for San Antonio de Béxar, the major presidio in Mexican Texas, named in turn for the San Antonio River and the Spanish viceroy's family, who were Dukes of Béjar in Spain. It was carved from territory previously part of One of the original 23 counties.
Bexar County, Texas — frequently asked questions
Quick answers about Bexar 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 Bexar County, Texas located?+
Bexar County is located in the South Texas region of Texas at approximately 29.449° N, 98.520° W. It is one of the 254 counties of Texas and carries U.S. Census FIPS code 48029. The interactive map on this page renders the official U.S. Census TIGER boundary for Bexar County over real-world OpenStreetMap, Esri satellite, and topographic basemaps.
How big is Bexar County in square miles?+
Bexar County covers approximately 1,247 square miles of land in the South Texas region — a mid-sized Texas county. By land area it ranks 36th 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 Bexar County, Texas?+
Bexar County has a population of approximately 2,160,088 residents. With 1,247 square miles of land, that works out to a population density of about 1732.2 people per square mile, which is highly urban for a Texas county. That makes Bexar County the 4th most populous of the 254 counties in Texas.
What is the county seat of Bexar County?+
San Antonio is the county seat of Bexar County, Texas, which was organized in 1836 and named for San Antonio de Béxar, the major presidio in Mexican Texas, named in turn for the San Antonio River and the Spanish viceroy's family, who were Dukes of Béjar in Spain. Bexar County was originally carved out of One of the original 23 counties. County government offices, courthouses, and most public records for Bexar County are located in San Antonio.
Which Texas counties border Bexar County?+
Bexar County shares borders with Comal, Kendall, Medina, Atascosa, Bandera, Wilson, and Guadalupe 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 South Texas region.
Where can I download or print a map of Bexar County?+
Use the "Download PDF" button below the Bexar 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 Bexar 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 Bexar County, Texas?+
The full 5-digit U.S. Census FIPS code for Bexar County is 48029, made up of Texas state code 48 and the 3-digit county code 029. 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.