Geography of Freestone County
Small towns and open country define Freestone County. Its 20,811 residents are spread across 885 square miles, giving the county a density typical of rural Texas.
It lies in the Central Texas region at about 31.70° N, 96.15° W and is 170th in size among Texas's 254 counties. Freestone County shares boundaries with 5 other Texas counties, and the closest major cities are Waco (about 60 miles away in a straight line) and Tyler (about 67 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 Freestone 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 20,811 residents across 885 square miles, Freestone County has a population density of about 23.5 people per square mile. Like much of West and South Texas, the county is sparsely populated, with wide-open country between settlements.
County seat: Fairfield
If you need an official record from Freestone County — a deed, a birth certificate, a court filing — Fairfield is where it is kept. Like every Texas county seat, it hosts the courthouse and the main offices of county government. For many residents, a trip to Fairfield combines county business with groceries, school events and church.
History & name origin
Freestone County was established in 1850 and was named for A type of peach grown in the area. It was carved from territory previously part of Limestone County.
Freestone County, Texas — frequently asked questions
Quick answers about Freestone 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 Freestone County, Texas located?+
Freestone County is located in the Central Texas region of Texas at approximately 31.705° N, 96.149° W. It is one of the 254 counties of Texas and carries U.S. Census FIPS code 48161. The interactive map on this page renders the official U.S. Census TIGER boundary for Freestone County over real-world OpenStreetMap, Esri satellite, and topographic basemaps.
How big is Freestone County in square miles?+
Freestone County covers approximately 885 square miles of land in the Central Texas region — a mid-sized Texas county. By land area it ranks 170th 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 Freestone County, Texas?+
Freestone County has a population of approximately 20,811 residents. With 885 square miles of land, that works out to a population density of about 23.5 people per square mile, which is rural for a Texas county. That makes Freestone County the 118th most populous of the 254 counties in Texas.
What is the county seat of Freestone County?+
Fairfield is the county seat of Freestone County, Texas, which was organized in 1850 and named for A type of peach grown in the area. Freestone County was originally carved out of Limestone County. County government offices, courthouses, and most public records for Freestone County are located in Fairfield.
Which Texas counties border Freestone County?+
Freestone County shares borders with Henderson, Leon, Navarro, Anderson, and Limestone counties. These 5 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 Freestone County?+
Use the "Download PDF" button below the Freestone 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 Freestone 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 Freestone County, Texas?+
The full 5-digit U.S. Census FIPS code for Freestone County is 48161, made up of Texas state code 48 and the 3-digit county code 161. 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.