Geography of Burnet County
Burnet County is built around Burnet and a handful of smaller towns, with about 57,015 residents across 995 square miles of mixed town and countryside.
It lies in the Central Texas region at about 30.79° N, 98.18° W and is 74th in size among Texas's 254 counties. Burnet County shares boundaries with 7 other Texas counties, and the closest major cities are Austin (about 44 miles away in a straight line) and Waco (about 81 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 Burnet 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 57,015 residents across 995 square miles, Burnet County has a population density of about 57.3 people per square mile. Density here reflects a mix of small cities, suburbs, and rural land.
County seat: Burnet
If you need an official record from Burnet County — a deed, a birth certificate, a court filing — Burnet is where it is kept. The town shares its name with the county. Like every Texas county seat, it hosts the courthouse and the main offices of county government. Burnet also serves as the main shopping, school and healthcare center for much of the county.
History & name origin
Burnet County was established in 1852 and was named for David Gouverneur Burnet, the first president of the Republic of Texas (1836). It was carved from territory previously part of Bell County, Travis County and Williamson County.
Burnet County, Texas — frequently asked questions
Quick answers about Burnet 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 Burnet County, Texas located?+
Burnet County is located in the Central Texas region of Texas at approximately 30.788° N, 98.182° W. It is one of the 254 counties of Texas and carries U.S. Census FIPS code 48053. The interactive map on this page renders the official U.S. Census TIGER boundary for Burnet County over real-world OpenStreetMap, Esri satellite, and topographic basemaps.
How big is Burnet County in square miles?+
Burnet County covers approximately 995 square miles of land in the Central Texas region — a mid-sized Texas county. By land area it ranks 74th 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 Burnet County, Texas?+
Burnet County has a population of approximately 57,015 residents. With 995 square miles of land, that works out to a population density of about 57.3 people per square mile, which is moderately populated for a Texas county. That makes Burnet County the 64th most populous of the 254 counties in Texas.
What is the county seat of Burnet County?+
Burnet is the county seat of Burnet County, Texas, which was organized in 1852 and named for David Gouverneur Burnet, the first president of the Republic of Texas (1836). Burnet County was originally carved out of Bell County, Travis County and Williamson County. County government offices, courthouses, and most public records for Burnet County are located in Burnet.
Which Texas counties border Burnet County?+
Burnet County shares borders with San Saba, Travis, Williamson, Lampasas, Llano, Bell, and Blanco 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 Burnet County?+
Use the "Download PDF" button below the Burnet 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 Burnet 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 Burnet County, Texas?+
The full 5-digit U.S. Census FIPS code for Burnet County is 48053, made up of Texas state code 48 and the 3-digit county code 053. 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.