Geography of Ellis County
Much of Ellis County's 940 square miles now functions as part of a larger metro area: its population of about 240,867 gives it a density well above the Texas county average.
It lies in the North Texas region at about 32.35° N, 96.79° W and is 89th in size among Texas's 254 counties. Ellis County shares boundaries with 7 other Texas counties, and the closest major cities are Dallas (about 30 miles away in a straight line) and Fort Worth (about 42 miles).
North Texas runs from the Dallas–Fort Worth Metroplex out to the Red River and the Rolling Plains. It mixes one of America's largest urban regions with wheat fields, cattle country and small towns that grew up along railroads.
For a broader view of how Ellis 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 240,867 residents across 940 square miles, Ellis County has a population density of about 256.2 people per square mile. Density here reflects a mix of small cities, suburbs, and rural land.
County seat: Waxahachie
County government for Ellis County is based in Waxahachie. 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. As the county has grown, some offices have added annex locations closer to newer suburbs.
History & name origin
Ellis County was established in 1849 and was named for Richard Ellis (1781–1846), president of the convention that produced the Texas Declaration of Independence. It was carved from territory previously part of Navarro County.
Ellis County, Texas — frequently asked questions
Quick answers about Ellis 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 Ellis County, Texas located?+
Ellis County is located in the North Texas region of Texas at approximately 32.348° N, 96.794° W. It is one of the 254 counties of Texas and carries U.S. Census FIPS code 48139. The interactive map on this page renders the official U.S. Census TIGER boundary for Ellis County over real-world OpenStreetMap, Esri satellite, and topographic basemaps.
How big is Ellis County in square miles?+
Ellis County covers approximately 940 square miles of land in the North Texas region — a mid-sized Texas county. By land area it ranks 89th 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 Ellis County, Texas?+
Ellis County has a population of approximately 240,867 residents. With 940 square miles of land, that works out to a population density of about 256.2 people per square mile, which is densely populated for a Texas county. That makes Ellis County the 25th most populous of the 254 counties in Texas.
What is the county seat of Ellis County?+
Waxahachie is the county seat of Ellis County, Texas, which was organized in 1849 and named for Richard Ellis (1781–1846), president of the convention that produced the Texas Declaration of Independence. Ellis County was originally carved out of Navarro County. County government offices, courthouses, and most public records for Ellis County are located in Waxahachie.
Which Texas counties border Ellis County?+
Ellis County shares borders with Henderson, Navarro, Hill, Dallas, Johnson, Kaufman, and Tarrant counties. These 7 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 Ellis County?+
Use the "Download PDF" button below the Ellis 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 Ellis 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 Ellis County, Texas?+
The full 5-digit U.S. Census FIPS code for Ellis County is 48139, made up of Texas state code 48 and the 3-digit county code 139. 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.