Geography of Galveston County
Galveston County sits at roughly 29.40° N and 95.05° W in the Gulf Coast region of Texas, spanning 399 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 Galveston, and the county shares boundaries with 3 neighboring counties.
Population & demographics
With approximately 372,207 residents across 399 square miles, Galveston County has a population density of about 932.8 people per square mile. It ranks among the more densely populated counties in Texas — a clear sign of metropolitan urbanization.
County seat: Galveston
Galveston serves as the seat of government for Galveston 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
Galveston County was established in 1838 and was named for Its county seat, named after Bernardo de Gálvez, Spanish governor of the Louisiana Territory (1777–1785). It was carved from territory previously part of Brazoria County, Harris County and Liberty County.
Galveston County, Texas — frequently asked questions
Quick answers about Galveston 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 Galveston County, Texas located?+
Galveston County is located in the Gulf Coast region of Texas at approximately 29.399° N, 95.048° W. It is one of the 254 counties of Texas and carries U.S. Census FIPS code 48167. The interactive map on this page renders the official U.S. Census TIGER boundary for Galveston County over real-world OpenStreetMap, Esri satellite, and topographic basemaps.
How big is Galveston County in square miles?+
Galveston County covers approximately 399 square miles of land in the Gulf Coast region — a compact county by Texas standards. By land area it ranks 243rd 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 Galveston County, Texas?+
Galveston County has a population of approximately 372,207 residents. With 399 square miles of land, that works out to a population density of about 932.8 people per square mile, which is densely populated for a Texas county. That makes Galveston County the 16th most populous of the 254 counties in Texas.
What is the county seat of Galveston County?+
Galveston is the county seat of Galveston County, Texas, which was organized in 1838 and named for Its county seat, named after Bernardo de Gálvez, Spanish governor of the Louisiana Territory (1777–1785). Galveston County was originally carved out of Brazoria County, Harris County and Liberty County. County government offices, courthouses, and most public records for Galveston County are located in Galveston.
Which Texas counties border Galveston County?+
Galveston County shares borders with Harris, Brazoria, and Chambers counties. These 3 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 Gulf Coast region.
Where can I download or print a map of Galveston County?+
A free, print-ready PDF map of Galveston 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 Galveston 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 Galveston County, Texas?+
The full 5-digit U.S. Census FIPS code for Galveston County is 48167, made up of Texas state code 48 and the 3-digit county code 167. 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.