Geography of Caldwell County
Caldwell County sits at roughly 29.84° N and 97.62° W in the Central Texas region of Texas, spanning 546 square miles of terrain that includes the landscape characteristic of the area — from open ranchland and farmland to small-town main streets. The county's centroid is near Lockhart, and the county shares boundaries with 6 neighboring counties.
Population & demographics
With approximately 55,150 residents across 546 square miles, Caldwell County has a population density of about 101.0 people per square mile. Density here reflects a mix of small cities, suburbs, and rural land.
County seat: Lockhart
Lockhart serves as the seat of government for Caldwell County. The county courthouse, commissioners court, district clerk, and primary public records are located here. As with all 254 Texas counties, the county seat is the anchor of civic life and the principal address for elections, permits, and court filings.
History & name origin
Caldwell County was established in 1848 and was named for Matthew Caldwell, a signer of the Texas Declaration of Independence and soldier during the Texas Revolution. It was carved from territory previously part of Bastrop County and Gonzales County.
Caldwell County, Texas — frequently asked questions
Quick answers about Caldwell County geography, population, county seat, neighboring counties, and how to use the maps on this page. Every answer is generated from the official U.S. Census data backing this site.
Where is Caldwell County, Texas located?+
Caldwell County is located in the Central Texas region of Texas at approximately 29.837° N, 97.620° W. It is one of the 254 counties of Texas and carries U.S. Census FIPS code 48055. The interactive map on this page renders the official U.S. Census TIGER boundary for Caldwell County over real-world OpenStreetMap, Esri satellite, and topographic basemaps.
How big is Caldwell County in square miles?+
Caldwell County covers approximately 546 square miles of land in the Central Texas region — a compact county by Texas standards. By land area it ranks 235th 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 Caldwell County, Texas?+
Caldwell County has a population of approximately 55,150 residents. With 546 square miles of land, that works out to a population density of about 101.0 people per square mile, which is moderately populated for a Texas county. That makes Caldwell County the 67th most populous of the 254 counties in Texas.
What is the county seat of Caldwell County?+
Lockhart is the county seat of Caldwell County, Texas, which was organized in 1848 and named for Matthew Caldwell, a signer of the Texas Declaration of Independence and soldier during the Texas Revolution. Caldwell County was originally carved out of Bastrop County and Gonzales County. County government offices, courthouses, and most public records for Caldwell County are located in Lockhart.
Which Texas counties border Caldwell County?+
Caldwell County shares borders with Travis, Hays, Bastrop, Fayette, Gonzales, and Guadalupe counties. These 6 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 Caldwell County?+
A free, print-ready PDF map of Caldwell County is available from the "Download PDF" button at the top of this page. The printable layout uses authentic U.S. Census TIGER boundary geometry for Caldwell County, includes a Texas locator inset, and is sized for standard 8.5" × 11" Letter paper. For interactive use, the live Leaflet map on this page supports OpenStreetMap, Esri satellite, Esri topographic, and Carto light basemaps with zoom, scale bar, and fullscreen.
What is the FIPS code for Caldwell County, Texas?+
The full 5-digit U.S. Census FIPS code for Caldwell County is 48055, made up of Texas state code 48 and the 3-digit county code 055. 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.