Geography of Blanco County
Small towns and open country define Blanco County. Its 13,581 residents are spread across 711 square miles, giving the county a density typical of rural Texas.
It lies in the Central Texas region at about 30.27° N, 98.40° W and is 212th in size among Texas's 254 counties. Blanco County shares boundaries with 7 other Texas counties, and the closest major cities are Austin (about 39 miles away in a straight line) and San Antonio (about 59 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 Blanco 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 13,581 residents across 711 square miles, Blanco County has a population density of about 19.1 people per square mile. Like much of West and South Texas, the county is sparsely populated, with wide-open country between settlements.
County seat: Johnson City
If you need an official record from Blanco County — a deed, a birth certificate, a court filing — Johnson City is where it is kept. Like every Texas county seat, it hosts the courthouse and the main offices of county government. For many residents, a trip to Johnson City combines county business with groceries, school events and church.
History & name origin
Blanco County was established in 1858 and was named for The Blanco River. (Blanco is Spanish for "white"). It was carved from territory previously part of Burnet County, Comal County, Gillespie County and Hays County.
Blanco County, Texas — frequently asked questions
Quick answers about Blanco 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 Blanco County, Texas located?+
Blanco County is located in the Central Texas region of Texas at approximately 30.266° N, 98.400° W. It is one of the 254 counties of Texas and carries U.S. Census FIPS code 48031. The interactive map on this page renders the official U.S. Census TIGER boundary for Blanco County over real-world OpenStreetMap, Esri satellite, and topographic basemaps.
How big is Blanco County in square miles?+
Blanco County covers approximately 711 square miles of land in the Central Texas region — a mid-sized Texas county. By land area it ranks 212th 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 Blanco County, Texas?+
Blanco County has a population of approximately 13,581 residents. With 711 square miles of land, that works out to a population density of about 19.1 people per square mile, which is rural for a Texas county. That makes Blanco County the 147th most populous of the 254 counties in Texas.
What is the county seat of Blanco County?+
Johnson City is the county seat of Blanco County, Texas, which was organized in 1858 and named for The Blanco River. (Blanco is Spanish for "white"). Blanco County was originally carved out of Burnet County, Comal County, Gillespie County and Hays County. County government offices, courthouses, and most public records for Blanco County are located in Johnson City.
Which Texas counties border Blanco County?+
Blanco County shares borders with Travis, Hays, Comal, Kendall, Llano, Burnet, and Gillespie 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 Blanco County?+
Use the "Download PDF" button below the Blanco 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 Blanco 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 Blanco County, Texas?+
The full 5-digit U.S. Census FIPS code for Blanco County is 48031, made up of Texas state code 48 and the 3-digit county code 031. 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.