Geography of Fayette County
Fayette County sits at roughly 29.88° N and 96.92° W in the Central Texas region of Texas, spanning 950 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 La Grange, and the county shares boundaries with 8 neighboring counties.
Population & demographics
With approximately 25,459 residents across 950 square miles, Fayette County has a population density of about 26.8 people per square mile. Like much of West and South Texas, the county is sparsely populated, with wide-open country between settlements.
County seat: La Grange
La Grange serves as the seat of government for Fayette 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
Fayette County was established in 1837 and was named for Gilbert du Motier, marquis de La Fayette (1757–1834), the French-born general and hero of the American Revolutionary War. It was carved from territory previously part of Bastrop County.
Fayette County, Texas — frequently asked questions
Quick answers about Fayette 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 Fayette County, Texas located?+
Fayette County is located in the Central Texas region of Texas at approximately 29.877° N, 96.920° W. It is one of the 254 counties of Texas and carries U.S. Census FIPS code 48149. The interactive map on this page renders the official U.S. Census TIGER boundary for Fayette County over real-world OpenStreetMap, Esri satellite, and topographic basemaps.
How big is Fayette County in square miles?+
Fayette County covers approximately 950 square miles of land in the Central Texas region — a mid-sized Texas county. By land area it ranks 85th 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 Fayette County, Texas?+
Fayette County has a population of approximately 25,459 residents. With 950 square miles of land, that works out to a population density of about 26.8 people per square mile, which is rural for a Texas county. That makes Fayette County the 102nd most populous of the 254 counties in Texas.
What is the county seat of Fayette County?+
La Grange is the county seat of Fayette County, Texas, which was organized in 1837 and named for Gilbert du Motier, marquis de La Fayette (1757–1834), the French-born general and hero of the American Revolutionary War. Fayette County was originally carved out of Bastrop County. County government offices, courthouses, and most public records for Fayette County are located in La Grange.
Which Texas counties border Fayette County?+
Fayette County shares borders with Lee, Austin, Caldwell, Lavaca, Bastrop, Colorado, Gonzales, and Washington counties. These 8 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 Fayette County?+
A free, print-ready PDF map of Fayette 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 Fayette 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 Fayette County, Texas?+
The full 5-digit U.S. Census FIPS code for Fayette County is 48149, made up of Texas state code 48 and the 3-digit county code 149. 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.