Geography of Calhoun County
Calhoun County sits at roughly 28.51° N and 96.68° W in the Central Texas region of Texas, spanning 512 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 Port Lavaca, and the county shares boundaries with 5 neighboring counties.
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
Port Lavaca serves as the seat of government for Calhoun 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
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. Every answer is generated from the official U.S. Census data backing this site.
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?+
A free, print-ready PDF map of Calhoun 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 Calhoun 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 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.