Geography of Erath County
Erath County is built around Stephenville and a handful of smaller towns, with about 43,911 residents across 1,086 square miles of mixed town and countryside.
It lies in the Central Texas region at about 32.24° N, 98.22° W and is 52nd in size among Texas's 254 counties. Erath County shares boundaries with 7 other Texas counties, and the closest major cities are Fort Worth (about 63 miles away in a straight line) and Waco (about 79 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 Erath 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 43,911 residents across 1,086 square miles, Erath County has a population density of about 40.4 people per square mile. Like much of West and South Texas, the county is sparsely populated, with wide-open country between settlements.
County seat: Stephenville
If you need an official record from Erath County — a deed, a birth certificate, a court filing — Stephenville is where it is kept. Like every Texas county seat, it hosts the courthouse and the main offices of county government. Stephenville also serves as the main shopping, school and healthcare center for much of the county.
History & name origin
Erath County was established in 1856 and was named for George Bernard Erath, an early surveyor and a soldier at the Battle of San Jacinto. It was carved from territory previously part of Bosque County and Coryell County.
Erath County, Texas — frequently asked questions
Quick answers about Erath 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 Erath County, Texas located?+
Erath County is located in the Central Texas region of Texas at approximately 32.236° N, 98.218° W. It is one of the 254 counties of Texas and carries U.S. Census FIPS code 48143. The interactive map on this page renders the official U.S. Census TIGER boundary for Erath County over real-world OpenStreetMap, Esri satellite, and topographic basemaps.
How big is Erath County in square miles?+
Erath County covers approximately 1,086 square miles of land in the Central Texas region — a mid-sized Texas county. By land area it ranks 52nd 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 Erath County, Texas?+
Erath County has a population of approximately 43,911 residents. With 1,086 square miles of land, that works out to a population density of about 40.4 people per square mile, which is rural for a Texas county. That makes Erath County the 79th most populous of the 254 counties in Texas.
What is the county seat of Erath County?+
Stephenville is the county seat of Erath County, Texas, which was organized in 1856 and named for George Bernard Erath, an early surveyor and a soldier at the Battle of San Jacinto. Erath County was originally carved out of Bosque County and Coryell County. County government offices, courthouses, and most public records for Erath County are located in Stephenville.
Which Texas counties border Erath County?+
Erath County shares borders with Hood, Somervell, Hamilton, Bosque, Palo Pinto, Comanche, and Eastland 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 Central Texas region.
Where can I download or print a map of Erath County?+
Use the "Download PDF" button below the Erath 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 Erath 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 Erath County, Texas?+
The full 5-digit U.S. Census FIPS code for Erath County is 48143, made up of Texas state code 48 and the 3-digit county code 143. 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.