Geography of Calhoun County
Calhoun County is a rural county of 512 square miles and about 19,599 residents, where farms and ranches fill most of the space between Port Lavaca and its smaller communities.
It lies in the Central Texas region at about 28.51° N, 96.68° W and is one of the 25 smallest counties in Texas (238th of 254 by area). The county fronts the Gulf of Mexico or its bays, so the coastline, wetlands and storm-surge planning are part of everyday life. Calhoun County shares boundaries with 5 other Texas counties, and the closest major cities are Victoria (about 28 miles away in a straight line) and Corpus Christi (about 66 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 Calhoun 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 19,599 residents across 512 square miles, Calhoun County has a population density of about 38.3 people per square mile. Like much of West and South Texas, the county is sparsely populated, with wide-open country between settlements.
County seat: Port Lavaca
County government for Calhoun County is based in Port Lavaca. The commissioners court, made up of a county judge and four precinct commissioners, meets here and sets the county budget, roads policy and tax rate. For many residents, a trip to Port Lavaca combines county business with groceries, school events and church.
History & name origin
Calhoun County was established in 1846 and was named for John C. Calhoun, the seventh vice president of the United States (1825–1832). It was carved from territory previously part of Jackson County, Matagorda County and Victoria County.
Calhoun County, Texas — frequently asked questions
Quick answers about Calhoun 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 Calhoun County, Texas located?+
Calhoun County is located in the Central Texas region of Texas at approximately 28.513° N, 96.679° W. It is one of the 254 counties of Texas and carries U.S. Census FIPS code 48057. The interactive map on this page renders the official U.S. Census TIGER boundary for Calhoun County over real-world OpenStreetMap, Esri satellite, and topographic basemaps.
How big is Calhoun County in square miles?+
Calhoun County covers approximately 512 square miles of land in the Central Texas region — a compact county by Texas standards. By land area it ranks 238th 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 Calhoun County, Texas?+
Calhoun County has a population of approximately 19,599 residents. With 512 square miles of land, that works out to a population density of about 38.3 people per square mile, which is rural for a Texas county. That makes Calhoun County the 126th most populous of the 254 counties in Texas.
What is the county seat of Calhoun County?+
Port Lavaca is the county seat of Calhoun County, Texas, which was organized in 1846 and named for John C. Calhoun, the seventh vice president of the United States (1825–1832). Calhoun County was originally carved out of Jackson County, Matagorda County and Victoria County. County government offices, courthouses, and most public records for Calhoun County are located in Port Lavaca.
Which Texas counties border Calhoun County?+
Calhoun County shares borders with Matagorda, Refugio, Victoria, Aransas, and Jackson 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 Calhoun County?+
Use the "Download PDF" button below the Calhoun 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 Calhoun 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 Calhoun County, Texas?+
The full 5-digit U.S. Census FIPS code for Calhoun County is 48057, made up of Texas state code 48 and the 3-digit county code 057. 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.