Geography of Brazos County
Much of Brazos County's 586 square miles now functions as part of a larger metro area: its population of about 249,088 gives it a density well above the Texas county average.
It lies in the Central Texas region at about 30.66° N, 96.30° W and is one of the 25 smallest counties in Texas (232nd of 254 by area). Brazos County shares boundaries with 5 other Texas counties, and the closest major cities are College Station (about 3 miles away in a straight line) and Waco (about 79 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 Brazos 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 249,088 residents across 586 square miles, Brazos County has a population density of about 425.1 people per square mile. Density here reflects a mix of small cities, suburbs, and rural land.
County seat: Bryan
Bryan is the county seat of Brazos 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
Brazos County was established in 1841 and was named for The Brazos River (from Spanish Los Brazos de Dios, the arms of God). It was carved from territory previously part of Washington County. Named Navasota County until 1842.
Brazos County, Texas — frequently asked questions
Quick answers about Brazos 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 Brazos County, Texas located?+
Brazos County is located in the Central Texas region of Texas at approximately 30.661° N, 96.302° W. It is one of the 254 counties of Texas and carries U.S. Census FIPS code 48041. The interactive map on this page renders the official U.S. Census TIGER boundary for Brazos County over real-world OpenStreetMap, Esri satellite, and topographic basemaps.
How big is Brazos County in square miles?+
Brazos County covers approximately 586 square miles of land in the Central Texas region — a compact county by Texas standards. By land area it ranks 232nd 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 Brazos County, Texas?+
Brazos County has a population of approximately 249,088 residents. With 586 square miles of land, that works out to a population density of about 425.1 people per square mile, which is densely populated for a Texas county. That makes Brazos County the 24th most populous of the 254 counties in Texas.
What is the county seat of Brazos County?+
Bryan is the county seat of Brazos County, Texas, which was organized in 1841 and named for The Brazos River (from Spanish Los Brazos de Dios, the arms of God). Brazos County was originally carved out of Washington County. Named Navasota County until 1842. County government offices, courthouses, and most public records for Brazos County are located in Bryan.
Which Texas counties border Brazos County?+
Brazos County shares borders with Grimes, Madison, Burleson, Robertson, and Washington 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 Central Texas region.
Where can I download or print a map of Brazos County?+
Use the "Download PDF" button below the Brazos 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 Brazos 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 Brazos County, Texas?+
The full 5-digit U.S. Census FIPS code for Brazos County is 48041, made up of Texas state code 48 and the 3-digit county code 041. 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.