Geography of Dallas County
Dallas County sits at roughly 32.77° N and 96.78° W in the North Texas region of Texas, spanning 880 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 Dallas, and the county shares boundaries with 6 neighboring counties.
Population & demographics
With approximately 2,661,397 residents across 880 square miles, Dallas County has a population density of about 3024.3 people per square mile. It ranks among the more densely populated counties in Texas — a clear sign of metropolitan urbanization.
County seat: Dallas
Dallas serves as the seat of government for Dallas 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
Dallas County was established in 1846 and was named for George Mifflin Dallas, the eleventh vice president of the United States (1845–1849)(Disputed). It was carved from territory previously part of Nacogdoches County and Robertson County.
Dallas County, Texas — frequently asked questions
Quick answers about Dallas 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 Dallas County, Texas located?+
Dallas County is located in the North Texas region of Texas at approximately 32.767° N, 96.778° W. It is one of the 254 counties of Texas and carries U.S. Census FIPS code 48113. The interactive map on this page renders the official U.S. Census TIGER boundary for Dallas County over real-world OpenStreetMap, Esri satellite, and topographic basemaps.
How big is Dallas County in square miles?+
Dallas County covers approximately 880 square miles of land in the North Texas region — a mid-sized Texas county. By land area it ranks 174th 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 Dallas County, Texas?+
Dallas County has a population of approximately 2,661,397 residents. With 880 square miles of land, that works out to a population density of about 3024.3 people per square mile, which is highly urban for a Texas county. That makes Dallas County the 2nd most populous of the 254 counties in Texas.
What is the county seat of Dallas County?+
Dallas is the county seat of Dallas County, Texas, which was organized in 1846 and named for George Mifflin Dallas, the eleventh vice president of the United States (1845–1849)(Disputed). Dallas County was originally carved out of Nacogdoches County and Robertson County. County government offices, courthouses, and most public records for Dallas County are located in Dallas.
Which Texas counties border Dallas County?+
Dallas County shares borders with Kaufman, Rockwall, Tarrant, Denton, Collin, and Ellis 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 North Texas region.
Where can I download or print a map of Dallas County?+
A free, print-ready PDF map of Dallas 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 Dallas 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 Dallas County, Texas?+
The full 5-digit U.S. Census FIPS code for Dallas County is 48113, made up of Texas state code 48 and the 3-digit county code 113. 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.