Geography of Erath County
Erath County sits at roughly 32.24° N and 98.22° W in the Central Texas region of Texas, spanning 1,086 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 Stephenville, and the county shares boundaries with 7 neighboring counties.
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
Stephenville serves as the seat of government for Erath 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
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. Every answer is generated from the official U.S. Census data backing this site.
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?+
A free, print-ready PDF map of Erath 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 Erath 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 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.