Geography of Colorado County
Small towns and open country define Colorado County. Its 21,439 residents are spread across 963 square miles, giving the county a density typical of rural Texas.
It lies in the Central Texas region at about 29.62° N, 96.53° W and is 82nd in size among Texas's 254 counties. Colorado County shares boundaries with 5 other Texas counties, and the closest major cities are Victoria (about 64 miles away in a straight line) and Houston (about 70 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 Colorado 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 21,439 residents across 963 square miles, Colorado County has a population density of about 22.3 people per square mile. Like much of West and South Texas, the county is sparsely populated, with wide-open country between settlements.
County seat: Columbus
County government for Colorado County is based in Columbus. 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 Columbus combines county business with groceries, school events and church.
History & name origin
Colorado County was established in 1836 and was named for The Colorado River of Texas (Colorado is Spanish for "colored"). It was carved from territory previously part of One of the original 23 counties.
Colorado County, Texas — frequently asked questions
Quick answers about Colorado 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 Colorado County, Texas located?+
Colorado County is located in the Central Texas region of Texas at approximately 29.621° N, 96.526° W. It is one of the 254 counties of Texas and carries U.S. Census FIPS code 48089. The interactive map on this page renders the official U.S. Census TIGER boundary for Colorado County over real-world OpenStreetMap, Esri satellite, and topographic basemaps.
How big is Colorado County in square miles?+
Colorado County covers approximately 963 square miles of land in the Central Texas region — a mid-sized Texas county. By land area it ranks 82nd 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 Colorado County, Texas?+
Colorado County has a population of approximately 21,439 residents. With 963 square miles of land, that works out to a population density of about 22.3 people per square mile, which is rural for a Texas county. That makes Colorado County the 115th most populous of the 254 counties in Texas.
What is the county seat of Colorado County?+
Columbus is the county seat of Colorado County, Texas, which was organized in 1836 and named for The Colorado River of Texas (Colorado is Spanish for "colored"). Colorado County was originally carved out of One of the original 23 counties. County government offices, courthouses, and most public records for Colorado County are located in Columbus.
Which Texas counties border Colorado County?+
Colorado County shares borders with Wharton, Austin, Jackson, Lavaca, and Fayette 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 Colorado County?+
Use the "Download PDF" button below the Colorado 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 Colorado 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 Colorado County, Texas?+
The full 5-digit U.S. Census FIPS code for Colorado County is 48089, made up of Texas state code 48 and the 3-digit county code 089. 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.