Geography of Cameron County
Much of Cameron County's 906 square miles now functions as part of a larger metro area: its population of about 433,946 gives it a density well above the Texas county average.
It lies in the Central Texas region at about 26.13° N, 97.53° W and is 133rd in size among Texas's 254 counties. The county fronts the Gulf of Mexico or its bays, so the coastline, wetlands and storm-surge planning are part of everyday life. It is a border county, touching Mexico (along the Rio Grande). Cameron County shares boundaries with 2 other Texas counties, and the closest major cities are Brownsville (about 16 miles away in a straight line) and McAllen (about 44 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 Cameron 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 433,946 residents across 906 square miles, Cameron County has a population density of about 479.0 people per square mile. Density here reflects a mix of small cities, suburbs, and rural land.
County seat: Brownsville
If you need an official record from Cameron County — a deed, a birth certificate, a court filing — Brownsville is where it is kept. Like every Texas county seat, it hosts the courthouse and the main offices of county government. As the county has grown, some offices have added annex locations closer to newer suburbs.
History & name origin
Cameron County was established in 1848 and was named for Ewen Cameron, a soldier during the Texas Revolution killed during the Black Bean Episode. It was carved from territory previously part of Nueces County and lands ceded by Mexico.
Cameron County, Texas — frequently asked questions
Quick answers about Cameron 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 Cameron County, Texas located?+
Cameron County is located in the Central Texas region of Texas at approximately 26.127° N, 97.531° W. It is one of the 254 counties of Texas and carries U.S. Census FIPS code 48061. The interactive map on this page renders the official U.S. Census TIGER boundary for Cameron County over real-world OpenStreetMap, Esri satellite, and topographic basemaps.
How big is Cameron County in square miles?+
Cameron County covers approximately 906 square miles of land in the Central Texas region — a mid-sized Texas county. By land area it ranks 133rd 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 Cameron County, Texas?+
Cameron County has a population of approximately 433,946 residents. With 906 square miles of land, that works out to a population density of about 479.0 people per square mile, which is densely populated for a Texas county. That makes Cameron County the 13th most populous of the 254 counties in Texas.
What is the county seat of Cameron County?+
Brownsville is the county seat of Cameron County, Texas, which was organized in 1848 and named for Ewen Cameron, a soldier during the Texas Revolution killed during the Black Bean Episode. Cameron County was originally carved out of Nueces County and lands ceded by Mexico. County government offices, courthouses, and most public records for Cameron County are located in Brownsville.
Which Texas counties border Cameron County?+
Cameron County shares borders with Hidalgo and Willacy counties. These 2 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 Cameron County?+
Use the "Download PDF" button below the Cameron 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 Cameron 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 Cameron County, Texas?+
The full 5-digit U.S. Census FIPS code for Cameron County is 48061, made up of Texas state code 48 and the 3-digit county code 061. 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.